To Cross Borders of Every Sort

Almost ten years ago we started a course at the College entitled “Through the Eyes of Faith.” Designed by our campus minister, Robert Kloska, this international travel program was initiated  to give students a global perspective much broader than the economic and cultural diversity which characterize so many study abroad regimes.  The Holy Cross College International Experience was launched with the understanding that the common fatherhood of God would form a common basis for understanding the basic human needs that span current national boundaries and provide a perspective on the historical progress of the people of God.

The positive initial experiences in this program motivated the faculty of the College to make the program a requirement for the liberal studies baccalaureate degree.  It has now expanded beyond the original target, which was Ghana, West Africa, to include Mexico, Peru, and India.  And it promises to become more wide spread.

I have witnessed many student Capstone presentations (our senior thesis), and I never cease to be amazed at the impact that this “crossing of borders” has on students.  A common theme is that our students are moved by the basic happiness and contentment of those whom they have come to know as brothers and sisters. Despite material poverty, our international family exhibits a basic human joy, which students readily attribute to seeing life “though the eyes of faith” and the daily experience of God’s love.

Moreau encouraged our first Holy Cross religious to “cross borders of every sort” out of love for God.  At Holy Cross we encourage students to cross these same borders in order to experience global diversity “through the eyes of faith”—a vision that can only serve to create unity as we recognize the human needs which are common to us all.

This spring we adopted a new core curriculum.  It will serve the college well for many years and will form the foundation for new majors and academic programs to come.  The core is firmly rooted in our Holy Cross belief that “no culture of the world can be our abiding home” (Holy Cross Constitution on Mission).  Thus, even as we diversify our programs and expand our international horizons, we deepen our essential commitments to be an institution that advances the Gospel by building competent minds and compassionate hearts.

So, we cross borders in order to be more confident about being home. Sincerely, Br. Richard Gilman, CSC, PhD, President