Gratitude, Renewal, Mission: XU holds 2014 Faculty Convocation By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero Xavier University held the Faculty Convocation 2014 in the Little Theater on July 23, Wednesday. The event’s theme was “Xavier Celebrating the Bicentennial of Jesuit restoration: Gratitude … Renewal … Mission”. After the introduction of the new deans, chairs, and faculty of the university, Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ focused on the key aspects of gratitude, renewal, and mission in his University President’s Address. “We should be thankful that the Jesuits were restored,” Fr. Yap said, stating that the university owed its existence to their restoration. He also expressed his gratitude with the university’s accomplishments. These included the success of the Dayun Padayun project (blessing of the permanent houses in Ecoville), renaming of the University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the conferment of an honorary doctorate to Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle DD. Fr. Yap also recognized the performance of the university’s newly-licensed nurses, teachers, and chemical engineers during the Licensure Exams, in which XU students placed among the highest. Aside from XU’s accomplishments, Fr. Yap stressed the university’s need for renewal. The university president commented on the alarming decrease of the enrollment rate during his tenure: “We need to intensify promotions and enrollment [rates].” He suggested holding a college open house and using social media to reach out to people. Lastly, Fr. Yap introduced the revised university mission statement approved by the Board of Trustees on March 1, with the amendment: “Xavier is a Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit University forming leaders of competence, conscience and commitment serving the Church, the global community, and the Filipino people.” The vision statement was also revised, now describing the university’s goal in becoming “…a leading ASEAN university forming leaders of character by 2033” “We want to serve the ASEAN nations,” Fr. Yap said, explaining that it is targeted on 2033 because Xavier will be celebrating its centennial that year. Photo by Paul Balase
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 12:40:39 +0000