The issue: In these tough times, faith becomes an aid to people.

Our stance: Brophy encourages all students to grow in their individual faith tradition.

In these tiring times when our culture is working to inspire a new generation to tackle the world’s problems, faith becomes a guide and a companion to lean on.

Since its founding in 1928, Brophy has become a place    where all faiths are encouraged and nurtured, a quality that distinguishes Brophy from other high schools.

In a  study published in the May 2010 edition of The Roundup, students declared themselves as members of many different faith denominations including Catholics, non-denominational Christians, Atheists, Agnostics, Hindus, Sikhs and a multitude of others.

In an recent online Roundup poll, 78 percent of the 23 respondents said Brophy has encouraged them to grow in their spirituality.

Admittedly, some will take Brophy at face value as just one of five Catholic high schools in Phoenix. They may go as far as to believe in unbecoming stereotypes that depict Brophy as a school for the rich, overshadowing the true and unique merits of the Jesuit education afforded to Brophy students.

The Jesuit education offered at Brophy focuses on five main values, including religion, which Brophy hopes all its graduates possess.

These values encourage students to become more active in their spiritual life, regardless of their religion.

It implies thought, reflection and action in the tradition of one’s faith, whatever that may be.

In this light, Brophy accepts all faiths.

The cornerstones of spiritual development at Brophy are the retreats, immersion trips and service-oriented activities.

The retreats, beginning with the Frosh Retreat and culminating with Kairos for seniors, offer time away from the rat race of school, sports and clubs to clear one’s mind and reflect on life.

Regardless of one’s faith, students always find something meaningful at Manresa, Brophy’s retreat center aptly-named after the place St. Ignatius of Loyola retreated, and they come back refreshed in life and spirituality.

Similarly to the retreats, Brophy’s immersion trips and service-oriented activities invigorate students to act on their beliefs in the service of others, but also give students experiences that influence their beliefs for a lifetime.

Outside of the retreats and immersion trips, students’ participation in their faith tradition on and off campus also attests to the development of students’ beliefs at Brophy.

Students have written and contributed to books on different faiths, led prayer services, participated in Masses, formed prayer groups and held candle light vigils.

These students answered the call of their faiths, and are great examples of what Brophy encourages.

Like the other Catholic high school students, Brophy students take religion classes, as they are a core aspect of a Jesuit education, with the focus of those classes on Christianity and Catholicism.

But the teachers allow the subject matter to be open for classroom discussion and individual interpretation.

One class unique to Brophy, Senior Synthesis, has seniors research their individual faith traditions to answer questions that have arisen from experiences in their lives. Seniors then write a four-chapter paper about their experiences and beliefs.

By far, the success of Brophy graduates stems from the values of the Jesuit education and the encouragement of its students to grow and mature in their faith traditions.

Staff editorial by Eric Villanueva ’11, Ian Beck ’12, Michael Mandeville ’11, Rohan Andresen ’12 and Alex Stanley ’12

Staff editorials represent the view of The Roundup. Share your thoughts by e-mailing roundup@brophybroncos.org or leave comments online at roundup.brophyprep.org.