OVERVIEW
Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service. These are exciting days at Xavier University of Louisiana as plans continue for the construction of the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel. Please visit all of the web pages below that make up our Catholic Mission Website. There is something here for everyone.
Saint Katharine Drexel and The Founding of Xavier
Concerned for America’s two most neglected groups, Native and African Americans, Xavier’s founder, Katharine Drexel, set out on a powerful journey of Christian love and social justice. Seventy years before Americans heard of civil rights or Native American movements, Katharine was consecrating her life to God to work with Native and African Americans. She became a Roman Catholic nun in 1891, and founded a religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, which also vowed to consecrate their lives to God and to the service of these minorities. In order to identify Xavier’s founding mission, we need to return to the year 1915. That year, Archbishop Blenk of New Orleans approached Mother Katharine about the lack of Catholic higher education for African Americans. With the guidance of the Josephites, Archbishop Blenk was able to offer a plan. Southern University was located on Magazine Street in New Orleans. In 1912, This University for African Americans moved to Baton Rouge due to pressure from White neighbors. Their abandoned building, which was well suited to higher education, was about to be auctioned to the highest bidder. After prayer, consultation, and a personal visit to see the property, Mother Katharine purchased the building and surrounding property through a third party. Old Southern became St. Francis Xavier, now known as “Xavier Prep,” named after a great missionary. The seeds they planted in the city that year have grown, flourished, and produced a substantial American university, recognized for its thousands of graduates who made and are making significant contributions to the Global Society in a wide variety of fields.
It was at Xavier that Mother Katharine could best enable her whole vision and congregational mission – that those who were educated and evangelized by the SBS would be leaders, educators, and evangelizers themselves. The vision has been made a reality in ways that she couldn’t even have imagined. The impact of the University has been told and retold by individuals who were part of the story. It is told everyday here at the University by example as so many graduates have returned to give and to share. In a unique way, Dr. Norman C. Francis, a member of the Xavier University Class of 1952, and named XU’s President in 1968, epitomizes the fulfillment of Mother Katharine’s dream.
Office of Campus Ministry
Xavier‘s Office of Campus Ministry provides religious opportunity and direction for all students, staff, and faculty on Xavier’s campus. While there are many events which are Catholic-centered (i.e. daily Mass, Bible discussions, religion classes, retreats, and others), faculty, staff and students from other Christian and Religious Traditions attend as well. As Xavier’s reputation has grown as a liberal arts HBCU with a strong curriculum in both the liberal arts and the sciences, students of all faiths have been attracted to the University.
In keeping with the University’s mission to help promote a more just and humane society, Xavier has long worked to educate the entire person by providing education and religious activities to all students, regardless of religious denomination.
Calendar of Events
A Calendar of Events of Catholic and Religious Activities is under construction. Once completed, you will be able to check the Calendar to see the many opportunities available to faculty, staff, and students of all denominations.
Social Justice and Service Opportunities
The works and words of Saint Katharine Drexel still reverberate on the Xavier University of Louisiana Campus of the 21st Century. The Catholic document Justice in the World states that Christ “identified Himself with His least ones as He stated: As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of My family, you did it to Me. (Mt 25:40.” The social justice ministry of Mother Katharine and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament is very much a part of the fiber of a Xavier Education. Xavier students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to participate in social justice and service opportunities.
All campus organizations at Xavier must have a minimum of three service projects for their members each semester. This feature, once unique at XU, is gaining popularity at universities throughout the US. There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities in New Orleans such as Start The Adventure in Reading, Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, and many others including service days and walk-a-thons for the Xavier Chapter of the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Service Day.
Xavier’s Office of Student Services maintains the Center for Leadership and Service, Mobilization at Xavier (MAX), and Agency Clearinghouse, all of which facilitate participation in a variety of volunteer programs. Students can receive academic credit from participating in Service Learning projects, which involve students in active learning experiences that encourage academic inquiry.
Mission-Centered Curricula
Xavier University’s commitment to its mission is evident as its academic programs promote a more just and humane society. This commitment can be found in the courses across the curriculum, especially in the course offerings of the Department of Theology and The Institute of Black Catholic Studies.
Xavier’s Department of Theology offers an undergraduate major and minor in Theology as the Department promotes the University’s mission within the context of faith and theological reflection. The students are encouraged to understand the discourse of the human experience of God by means of an historical, critical approach. The Theology Program offers courses in Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, and the Fundamentals of Theology.
The Institute for Black Catholic Studies, which convenes for three weeks every summer, offers an interdisciplinary masters degree in theology (ThM) and one-week certificate and enrichment programs in catechesis (religious education), youth ministry and leadership.
The program enables students to acquire a deeper understanding of the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and the reality of being Black and Catholic from historical, philosophical, aesthetic, psychological, and theological perspectives. Such understanding enables them to develop more effective methods for Christian service or ministry in the Black Community.
Saint Katharine Drexel Chapel
The footprint of Xavier’s campus has changed significantly since its founding. When the school was first planned, Mother Katharine had several stately structures she wanted to build on Xavier’s campus, and to do so would show everyone that Xavier’s campus had the dignity and importance befitting all of God’s children. In addition to a stadium, Mother Katharine had the imposing Administration Building and Convent constructed out of Indiana Limestone. She also built a library, a gymnasium, and dormitories. The University grew and, more and more classrooms and buildings for the support of the infrastructure of the school were needed. The only building that was originally planned and not built was a chapel for the students, staff, faculty, and the community. Now, more than ninety years after its founding, Xavier University of Louisiana is planning to build the much-awaited chapel on Saint Katharine Drexel’s beloved campus. It is being designed by the internationally-renown architect Cesar Pelli, and it will be named the Saint Katharine Drexel Chapel.
A Future Rooted in “Giving Back”
Mother Katharine was clear about the purpose of Xavier University. She wanted to invite people to fully share in the faith that had shaped her life and she wanted to produce leaders – for society, for government, for the church. From the beginning, there was a great deal of emphasis on liberal and practical education, as well as a requirement of service, especially with the students at other SBS schools. There was a strong emphasis on “giving back” with the sense of stewardship or sharing – freely have you received, freely give. Clearly, the goal of Xavier has been very consistent over its history. In many ways, the current Mission Statement of Xavier is quite identical to the founding Mission: Xavier University of Louisiana, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is Catholic and historically Black. The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.
