The Ignatian Society of Boston College serves to promote the spirit and tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) by fostering a campus culture rooted in reflection, service, and community. Through programs, events, and outreach, the Ignatian Society invites students to engage with the values of Ignatian Spirituality —such as discernment, cura personalis (care for the whole person), and a commitment to faith that does justice— in both their personal and communal lives.
Questions?
Email: ignatian@bc.edu
Location: Manresa House (58 College Road)
Chaplains:
Justin Kelley, S.J. and Myles Kelley, S.J.
Staff Advisor:Â
Fr. Casey Beaumier, SJ
Discover the Ignatian Society
Our work focuses on two key areas: first, fostering connection and community among Boston College students who are graduates of Jesuit and Cristo Rey-affiliated high schools; and second, promoting the core tenets of Ignatian spirituality across the broader BC campus.
With over 725 undergraduate members, the Ignatian Society brings together one of the largest communities of students at Boston College shaped by the shared experience of Jesuit education. It serves as a home for students who wish to carry forward the values, friendships, and experiences of their Jesuit secondary education, weaving that foundational thread into their college journey. Through community-building, reflection, and service, the Ignatian Society helps students deepen their connection to Ignatian spirituality and continue growing in the values and formation rooted in the Jesuit tradition.
Many of our signature programs, including the Weekly Examen, Lunches with Jesuits, community gatherings, and service opportunities, are open to the entire Boston College community. These offerings invite students of all backgrounds to engage with Ignatian spirituality in accessible and welcoming ways. Whether you’re looking for a moment of stillness, a chance to grow in faith, or simply an opportunity to connect more deeply with others, we welcome you to join us as we continue to seek the greater glory of God – Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
Our programs
The Weekly Examen—held each Wednesday at 9:15 p.m.—is one of the Ignatian Society’s most longstanding and beloved programs, rooted in the heart of Ignatian spirituality. St. Ignatius believed that if we were to offer no other prayer, we should at least pray the Examen each day.
Hosted at the Manresa House (58 College Road), this brief, student-led reflection invites participants to pause, look back over their day or week, notice where God has been present, and become more attentive to the ways God may be working in their daily lives.
All are welcome to join us for this meaningful time of reflection.
The Lunches with Jesuits program offers students the opportunity to share a meal and conversation with a member of the Jesuit community at Boston College.
Held weekly throughout the semester at St. Mary’s Hall, each lunch brings together a small group of students and a Jesuit to share a meal, conversation, and informal reflection on topics ranging from vocation and prayer to life at BC and beyond. It is a welcoming and relaxed way for students to build relationships with Jesuits and engage more personally with the spirituality, experiences, and traditions of Jesuit life.
Sign-ups can be found in the weekly CM Newsletter or by emailing ignatian@bc.edu
Contact us if you're interested in attending:
Rooted in the Jesuit call to serve with and for others, the Ignatian Society encourages opportunities for service, outreach, and engagement with the wider Boston community.
Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in shared service experiences and community outreach through partnerships with existing organizations and other opportunities for encounter and reflection. In keeping with the Ignatian tradition, these experiences aim to foster relationships, reverence for the dignity of others, and a commitment to faith that does justice.
The Ignatian Society’s Community Gatherings bring together students shaped by the shared experience of Jesuit education for prayer, reflection, conversation, and community throughout the year.
These gatherings include monthly Community Nights, the annual Jesuit High School Barbecue, alumni dinners, and other opportunities for shared meals and conversation rooted in the Ignatian tradition. Through these events, students are invited to remain connected to the formation, values, and experiences that shaped them during their Jesuit secondary education and to carry those traditions forward during their time at Boston College.
Facts and Figures
42
Jesuit high schools represented at BC
727
BC undergraduates attended
a Jesuit or Cristo-Rey affiliated high school