Claver House

Patron

St. Peter Claver

Peter Claver, born in 1580, devoted great care to slaves just arriving in South America despite the social convention that did not consider them human; thus, he is known as the patron saint of slaves.   For 35 years this Jesuit showed boundless compassion for abandoned people, and he lived out the dictum of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez: "Look for God in all men and serve them as images of Him."

Claver first encountered Jesuits in Barcelona during his university studies. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1602 and studied philosophy at the college of Montesión, where he met the doorkeeper, Brother Alphonsus Rodríguez. The saintly brother encouraged the young Jesuit's desire to do something great for God and suggested he consider being a missionary in the New World.

Claver offered himself for the missions and was sent to Colombia in 1610. There he was ordained a priest in 1616 and spent the rest of his life ministering to slaves who arrived from Africa. Claver waited on the dock with food he had begged and then descended into the ship's hold to care for the sick. Besides caring for their physical needs, Claver spoke about God. He baptized and instructed in the Faith more than 300,000 of the Africans brought to the Americas.

After caring for others afflicted by the plague which struck Cartagena in 1650, Claver succumbed to the disease and died in 1654.  He was canonized in 1888; his feast is celebrated on September 9.

Dean

Jill Lipinski

Captains

Paul Gagnet-12; Greg Turissini-11; Ryan Shields-10 

Mentor Teachers

Linda Sibley, Scott Zura, Doug Pearson, Alex Clark, Dan Zawojski

Crest

The crest represents our house in multiple ways. The Owl stands for wisdom and vigilance. The spire represents St. John's. Two Jesuit sayings: AMDG, the greater glory of god and IHS in hoc signovinces, finding god in all things, or with this sign you will win.  The green represents hope and loyalty; the gold generosity and elevation of the mind.