Dear Students and Colleagues,
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I know that many of you are looking forward to spending time with family and friends — and perhaps a few days of rest and relaxation — before the busy days that will mark the end of the fall semester.
Along with re-connecting with loved ones, so many of you are reaching out to neighbors in need to offer comfort and support. This is the time of year I am most grateful for the kindness and generosity that characterize the USF community. Your actions for peace and justice make a great difference. Bringing loved ones closer and helping out strangers truly do change the world for the better.
Recognizing and reflecting upon the events and relationships that bring us an abiding sense of gratitude is central to the daily Ignatian prayer known as the Examen. I invite you to spend some time these days asking God for the graces we need to heal from the traumas we have endured and to find solace in the blessings we have received.
This Thanksgiving, I am grateful that every member of our diverse and beloved community has chosen to be part of the project that is the University of San Francisco.
Please know I am praying that you have a safe, healthy, and restful Thanksgiving break.
With warm wishes,
Paul Fitzgerald, S.J.
President
University of San Francisco