In recent years, SCS has deepened and expanded the presence and integration of Mission and Ministry in the life of the community. Mission in Motion has highlighted these efforts, including dedicated retreats, pedagogical and faculty support, communications, and course offerings. Bringing the Spirit of Georgetown to life has included opportunities for service-learning, community and global engagement in Washington, D.C., and beyond, and advocacy for justice and the common good. All of this work is presented in an inclusive and invitational way, presenting Jesuit values in a holistic and context-tailored manner that sparks inspiration and reflection for our diverse community.
SCS is growing this commitment to the Spirit of Georgetown with the appointment of Rabbi Rachel Gartner as Senior Advisor of Spiritual Care. Rabbi Rachel arrives at SCS having served for more than a decade as Rabbi and Director of Jewish Life at Georgetown. Rabbi Rachel brings many professional gifts with her to the work of animating the SCS community with mission and values. I am so excited to work alongside Rabbi Rachel because I have witnessed firsthand her skillfulness in interfaith engagement, her resourcefulness for spiritual accompaniment, and her creativity in meeting the pastoral care needs of a diverse constituency. I could go on!
I encourage you to watch this introductory video by Rabbi Rachel that now lives on the SCS YouTube page. As you watch, I encourage you to pay attention to three important points articulated by Rabbi Rachel:
- The work of spiritual care is to deepen, develop, and diversity SCS Mission and Ministry offerings so as to enhance the lives, learning, and leadership of ever-growing circles of the SCS community;
- Interfaith engagement is so powerful because different traditions can provide new angles, food for further thought, and sometimes deeper illumination about the places where traditions connect without having to connect in every place; and
- The Ignatian, Jesuit tradition of education, spirituality, and mission presents resonances and entry points for other religious, non-religious, and spiritual traditions.
This is such an important message for a diverse community like SCS. Mission lacks meaning unless it comes alive, and it only does so when deeper connections are made within the context of one’s lived experience. Rabbi Rachel offers a fresh perspective on how to do this work by bringing her considerable experience in pastoral care and interfaith engagement to bear on the opportunities and challenges facing our community. In a turn toward the practical, Rabbi Rachel’s introductory video ends with a “how” of this work: an invitation to Journey together on the path of mutual discovery through inclusive retreats and informative and inspiring communications.