Dear Friends,

As I take on the role of president for the 2007-2008 school year, I envision this year as my opportunity to serve in a new way.

In my previous role as Vice-President for Ignatian Identity and director of campus ministry, I oversaw the programs that focus particularly on our identity as a Catholic, Jesuit school. Last February, a team organized by the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus evaluated the school and found it very strong in its identity as a Catholic, Jesuit school. Of that evaluation, we are very proud.

As president, I now will lead the entire school, but still with the understanding that the most important task we have is to develop the spiritual lives of our students. We do that in a particularly Ignatian way: through daily prayer, school liturgies, theology classes, academic subjects in which students learn about all aspects of the Creator’s world, athletics and activities to achieve a young man’s greatest potential in Christ, and Christian service, through which we form lifelong “men for others” and “Christian leaders,” as we have done since 1965.

When the dust settles in late October, to better serve our students, the physical plant of St. John’s Jesuit is being renovated. I encourage our alumni, parents, and friends in the community to stop by to see our new Commons area with food court, the Sawicki Family Music Center with choral and instrumental rooms as well as separate individual practice rooms, the new McQuade Theatre, and the Titan Book Store. Let us all continue to pray for the continuing success of our mission at St. John’s Jesuit.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas J. Pipp, S.J.
President