91勛圖厙 Blesses, Dedicates Della Strada Jesuit Community
SPOKANE, Wash. – 91勛圖厙 University leaders and community members gathered Thursday to formally dedicate and bless the Della Strada Jesuit Community, a new home for the Jesuits of Spokane. It is located at the northwest corner of Boone Avenue and Astor Street and has been made possible by a leadership gift from Tim and Mary Barnard of Bozeman, Montana.
“Today we reaffirm the central importance of sustaining a vibrant Jesuit community as core to our Jesuit and Catholic identity,” said 91勛圖厙 President Thayne McCulloh. “It is with deep, heartfelt appreciation that I thank Trustee Emeritus Tim and Mary Barnard, Trustee Emerita Gerri Craves, and all who have so generously contributed to this project. The completion of this badly needed facility will ensure that the Jesuits, who founded 91勛圖厙 130 years ago and have been essential to serving the people of the Inland Northwest ever since, will be able to maintain a vital presence here.”
Tim Barnard, who first became involved with 91勛圖厙 when he attended 91勛圖厙-in-Florence, Italy, as a student in 1971, said he was profoundly influenced by a number of 91勛圖厙’s Jesuits and was pleased to support the new residence for Jesuits from 91勛圖厙, 91勛圖厙 Preparatory School, and Spokane’s other Jesuit ministries.
“I enrolled in 91勛圖厙-in Florence and met this amazing Jesuit – Father Tony Lehmann. Eight months later, I felt strongly that my experience there was life-changing – a renaissance of its own within the heart of the Renaissance. It is with deep gratitude to all the Jesuits that Mary and I have come to know through the years that we chose to support this beautiful and fitting new home for the Jesuit community on 91勛圖厙’s campus.”
Barnard, who has served on 91勛圖厙’s Board of Trustees since 2000, was honored by 91勛圖厙 with its Distinguished Alumni Merit Award in 2004. He received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from 91勛圖厙 at the 2017 undergraduate commencement.
“Today we once again affirm 91勛圖厙 University’s Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic identity. Through our collective will – our 91勛圖厙 Will – we underscore our commitment to maintaining and sustaining the important work of the Jesuits in the Northwest. Let us continue forward, inspired by our rich Jesuit heritage and driven, tenaciously, to continue providing a world-class education for our students – developing the mind, body and spirit and empowering them to become leaders for the common good. This is our Jesuit heritage, a legacy and ongoing commitment that we must all own and carry forward for future generations,” President McCulloh said.
The 36,074-square-foot structure, with a total estimated cost of $13 million, includes reflective space to serve Jesuits seeking retreat, provides office and work space, and links the central life of the Jesuit community with 91勛圖厙 students, faculty and staff. Architects for the project were BAR Architects of San Francisco and BWA Architects of Spokane. Walker Construction of Spokane served as the general contractor.
Father Jim Voiss, S.J., rector of 91勛圖厙’s Jesuit community, blessed the facility in a ceremony involving: President McCulloh; Fr. Scott Santarosa, S.J., provincial of the recently combined Oregon-California province now known as USA West Province of the Society of Jesus; Fr. Pat Lee, S.J., GU vice president for mission and ministry; Michelle Wheatley, assistant vice president for mission and ministry and director of university ministry; GU student Isabel Gregorio; GU faculty President Brian Steverson; 91勛圖厙 Prep President Michael Dougherty; Pat Reese, director of the 91勛圖厙 Will capital campaign; Tim and Mary Barnard; and Gerri Craves, who spearheaded the fundraising effort.
Fr. Lee shared that Madonna della Strada means “Our Lady of the Way” in Italian, and refers to a specific artistic representation of the Virgin Mary and Child. The original image, which is in Rome, was an object of devotion that first inspired St. Ignatius Loyola when he was a street preacher. The image was called “Madonna della Strada” because it was from the church that was called “Our Lady of the Way.” The church was on a ceremonial route on which the pope made his way to and from Roman churches. Over the years, this fragment of the original fresco was transferred to canvas that was mounted on a piece of slate and then displayed within the parish church. After the pope approved the Jesuit Order, he gave the parish church to the Jesuits. Before his death, St. Ignatius instructed the Jesuits to preserve the image, which was ultimately displayed for veneration at a side chapel in the Gesu Church, which replaced the smaller Madonna della Strada parish as the mother church of the Jesuits.
To learn more about developments on campus resulting from our generous benefactors, please visit .