A Global Perspective

The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola; members of this Catholic religious order are popularly known as the Jesuits. The order grew out of the activities of its founder and six companions who bound themselves by vows of poverty, chastity, and apostolic labors in the Holy Land or, if this latter plan did not prove feasible, to any apostolic endeavor enjoined by the Pope. From the start, education was a priority for Jesuits. Today there are 55 Jesuit institutions of higher education (28 in the USA; 27 in other countries).

Sites of Interest:

• Jesuits on-line: This Site is a resource for information about Jesuit history and contains links to other sites.
• A Brief Jesuit History: A concise overview of how the Society of Jesus was formed and its contribution to the Church.
• Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU): A national voluntary service organization whose mission is to serve its member institutions: the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States.