Photo Blog

Montserrat’s Global Society cluster held a Hunger Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 5 to raise awareness of disparities in food access locally and globally. More than 200 students and faculty participated in the lottery-styled meal that highlighted hunger and homelessness across the globe.

Fifteen percent of attendees enjoyed three-course meals served by wait staff, representing the proportion of the world’s population able to afford a nutritious daily diet; 35 percent received a healthy supply of beans and rice; representing those living on the edge of poverty; and a third group, comprised of 50 percent of participants, was given only ½ cup of rice and water, representing the majority of the world’s population that struggles daily to find food, water and shelter.

During the banquet, Liz Sheehan Castro of the Worcester County Food Bank; John Perkins of the Heifer Project; Drew Rapa ’14, co-chair of the College’s Oxfam chapter; and Michaela Johnson ‘13, SPUD intern coordinator of hunger and homeless projects, spoke about local and global food challenges.

A crowded Hogan Ballroom awaits to hear from MIT Professor Sherry Turkle, who gave a talk based on her new book, “Alone Together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other.”

As a professor, author, researcher, and licensed clinical psychologist, Turkle spoke on the social implications of technology, a topic she has studied for the last 30 years. In light of the author’s discussion and as part of the Montserrat program, all first-year students will take part in a technology-free day on Feb. 17.

After the talk, Turkle met with students and signed copies of her book, which explores the complex relationships people have with technology in our digital age.

Photography by Christian Santillo

Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries and author of “Tattoos on the Heart” delivers a presentation titled “Barking to the Choir: Finding the Kinship of God” in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. “Tattoos on the Heart” was selected as the first-year reading for the Class of 2015. Read more about the talk in the Telegram & Gazette.

Fr. Boyle signs books following his talk.

Photograph by J Kevin Crowley ’12

Each year since 2004, different members of Holy Cross faculty and staff have participated in the Ignatian Pilgrimage to study the life of Ignatius Loyola (1491 -1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus, and to enrich their understanding of the heritage of Jesuit education. The pilgrimage is led by Tom Landy, director of the Center for Religion, Ethics, and Culture at Holy Cross.

This year’s participants stand on the roof of the Jesuit headquarters in Rome. St. Peter’s Basilica is seen in the background. First row, left to right: Jerry Lembcke, associate professor of sociology; Margaret A. Post, director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning; Justin Poche, assistant professor of history. Second row, left to right: Susan Rodgers, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology; Sharon Frechette, associate professor of mathematics; Karen Teitel, assistant professor of economics; Virginia Raguin, professor of visual arts; Donald Brand, professor of political science; Rev. Earle Markey, S.J., associate director of admissions; Katherine Kiel, associate professor of economics. Third row, left to right: Mark Savolis, head of archives and special collections; Jeffrey Reno, associate professor of political science; Landy; Paul Covino, associate chaplain and director of liturgy; Blaise Nagy, professor of classics.

Holy Cross’ universal first-year program, titled Montserrat is named after this mountain near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain, where, in 1522, St. Ignatius of Loyola laid aside the symbols of his old life and began a pilgrimage of exploration, self-discovery and commitment.

Photograph by Virginia Raguin

The Church of St. Sebastian in Spain where St. Ignatius was baptized.

Photograph by Virginia Raguin

Campus life, academics, and environmental awareness came together — all under the apple tree in front of the Hogan Campus Center.  Visual arts professor Virginia Raguin’s Montserrat seminar, Graven Images, sampled applesauce made from the tree’s fruit  and reflected on its natural beauty.

Photography by Tim Paquette ’11