In Catholic higher education, mission integration refers to the process of actively embedding the Catholic faith, traditions, and values into all aspects of campus life. This means that the Catholic mission isn't just a separate program or event, but rather it informs the academic curriculum, the social environment, and even the spiritual development of the entire community.
Catholic universities strive to offer a holistic education that integrates faith and reason, ensuring that courses and programs reflect the institution's Catholic identity.
This might involve incorporating Catholic Social Teaching principles into economics courses, exploring the Church's teachings on human dignity in political science, or examining the role of faith in various disciplines.
Mission integration extends to the social and spiritual life on campus, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where students, faculty, and staff can engage with their faith.
This can involve incorporating prayer and liturgy into daily life, providing opportunities for faith formation, and actively promoting the Catholic values of compassion, justice, and service.
Mission integration is not limited to academic or spiritual areas but should be present in every aspect of campus life.
This includes hiring practices, orientation programs, and even the physical environment of the campus, where visible symbols of Catholic faith and tradition can be integrated.
Service-Learning: Incorporating community service projects into academic courses, allowing students to apply their knowledge and faith to real-world issues.
Spiritual Formation: Offering opportunities for prayer, worship, and reflection, as well as courses and programs that explore the Catholic faith.
Catholic Social Teaching: Integrating principles of social justice and human dignity into the curriculum and campus life.
Benefits of Mission Integration:
Strengthens the Catholic Identity: Mission integration helps ensure that the institution remains true to its Catholic mission and values.
Enhances Student Development: By integrating faith and learning, students develop a more holistic understanding of themselves, the world, and their place in it.
Fosters a Sense of Community: A shared commitment to the institution's mission can foster a stronger sense of community among students, faculty, and staff.
Read this essay about discerning the charism of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Whether this your first time hearing the word charism or you use it in your everyday life, this essay will give us a shared understanding of what we mean when we use the word and how we talk about the charism of Holy Cross. After reading this essay, ask yourself how you would explain the charism of Holy Cross to a new colleague at your institution?
Content courtesy of the Moreau Mission Collaborative, US Province of Priests and Brothers - Congregation of Holy Cross (2025).