Jesuits Celebrate 90 Years on the Bluff

MISSION AND MINISTRY | A telegram sent by the Los Angeles real estate developer, Harry H. Culver, to Joseph Sullivan, S.J., on Oct. 19, 1927 extended a propitious offer to relocate Loyola College to 100 acres of land that he owned in what was at the time known as the Del Rey hills. The land would be given to Loyola College “free of charge, for the creation of a campus, beginning with the minimum of two buildings to be built (at the college’s expense) within two years.” Like Mr. Culver, Father Sullivan also must have possessed the talents of a “developer, a dreamer, and a visionary” in order to accept this generous offer and make what became Loyola University (1930) and, subsequently, Loyola Marymount University (1973) a dream come true.

On Nov. 19, 2019, the Jesuits gathered with women religious, diocesan priests, and lay partners to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the Jesuits and the first college students on our Westchester campus. The humble beginnings of the new campus came to life in 1929. That year saw the laying of the cornerstones for the first two buildings to be built on campus – Xavier Hall and St. Robert’s Hall – the celebration of the first commencement exercises, and the beginning of the first student classes here.

The LMU Jesuit Community hosted the 90th anniversary celebration that marked the arrival of the first Jesuits and students in Westchester. The evening began with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Jesuit Community’s chapel. Sean Dempsey, S.J., assistant professor of history, presided and preached at the Mass. A social and festive dinner followed that provided a fitting celebration of the past 90 years. During dinner, Allan Deck, S.J., rector of the LMU Jesuit Community, served as host and invited three people to reflect on the historic occasion. Robert Caro, S.J., emeritus professor of English, MaryAnn Huepper, C.S.J., associate director for the C.S.J. Center for Reconciliation and Justice, and John Sebastian, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry, each offered thoughtful reflections on LMU’s growth and development, and they pointed forward to its bright future as it moves into its next 90 years.

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