Ad Majórem Dei Glóriam For the Greater Glory of God
AMDG
OUR MISSION
We are a Catholic school in the Jesuit tradition dedicated to academic excellence, forming students to become Men for Others
with Jesus as the model, and guiding them to create a hope-filled
future, all for the greater glory of God.
OUR VISION
To be the leading school in southeast Michigan of young men and families seeking a community committed to academic excellence and the formation of the whole person (cura personalis).
Ignatian Spirituality is what defines
U of D Jesuit High School and Academy .
St. Ignatius of Loyola, born Íñigo López de Loyola in 1491, was a Spanish Basque Catholic priest and theologian. He is best known as the founder of the Society of Jesus in 1540, also known as the Jesuits, it is the largest religious order within the Catholic Church. He is renowned for his spiritual writings, particularly his work "Spiritual Exercises," which outlines a structured method of prayer, meditation, and contemplation.
St. Ignatius underwent a profound spiritual conversion after being wounded in battle in 1521. During his recovery, he experienced a deep spiritual awakening and dedicated his life to serving God. He founded the Society of Jesus in 1540, with the approval of Pope Paul III, with the aim of promoting education, missionary work, and service to the Church.
The Jesuits became known for their missionary zeal, intellectual rigor, and commitment to education, establishing numerous schools, colleges, and universities worldwide. St. Ignatius served as the first Superior General of the Jesuits until his death in 1556.
St. Ignatius of Loyola was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, and his feast day is celebrated on July 31st. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the Catholic Counter-Reformation and has left a lasting impact on Christian spirituality and education.
Graduate at Graduation
The Jesuits developed the term "Graduate at Graduation" in 1980 to represent five key characteristics of a Jesuit high school graduate.
Our Values
![Open to Growth]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/wfw1li0sd2luv1b4471t/OpentoGrowth.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/wfw1li0sd2luv1b4471t/OpentoGrowth.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/wfw1li0sd2luv1b4471t/OpentoGrowth.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/wfw1li0sd2luv1b4471t/OpentoGrowth.png","width":1080}])
Open to Growth
We invest in the holistic development of ourselves and others. While keeping with our Catholic tradition, we grow through engaging different and opposing ideas and viewpoints.
![Religious]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/hr0eslxtvew2ddxeh2jj/Religious.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/hr0eslxtvew2ddxeh2jj/Religious.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/hr0eslxtvew2ddxeh2jj/Religious.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/hr0eslxtvew2ddxeh2jj/Religious.png","width":1080}])
Religious
We are a Catholic, Jesuit community seeking to find God in all things. We welcome and support other faiths.
![Loving]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/aaheda48tpqh0zm86uy9/Loving.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/aaheda48tpqh0zm86uy9/Loving.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/aaheda48tpqh0zm86uy9/Loving.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/aaheda48tpqh0zm86uy9/Loving.png","width":1080}])
Loving
We care for the whole person. We treat one another and the world with compassion and empathy.
![Intellectually Competent]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/rpyybivcuukn0eqk2fdv/IntellectuallyCompetent.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/rpyybivcuukn0eqk2fdv/IntellectuallyCompetent.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/rpyybivcuukn0eqk2fdv/IntellectuallyCompetent.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/rpyybivcuukn0eqk2fdv/IntellectuallyCompetent.png","width":1080}])
Intellectually Competent
We are rooted in a nearly 500-year history of unsurpassed educational excellence. We foster curiosity and critical thinking to drive life-long learning.
![Committed to Doing Justice]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/vwsirq7yb7uiwyoijo9g/heart-hand.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/vwsirq7yb7uiwyoijo9g/heart-hand.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/vwsirq7yb7uiwyoijo9g/heart-hand.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1710166912/detroitjesuit/vwsirq7yb7uiwyoijo9g/heart-hand.png","width":1080}])
Committed to Doing Justice
Inspired by the Gospel, we walk with others; serve the greater good; and lead within local, national, and global communities.
Midwest Province
The Midwest Jesuits Are Known for Innovation and for Their Care for Those at the Margins. As We Maintain Our Traditional Apostolates, We Continue to Read the Signs of the Times and Look for New Ways to Serve and Venture to New Frontiers.
Jesuit Schools Network
The Jesuit Schools Network provides programming and support to 91 secondary and pre-secondary member schools in the U.S. and Canada. As a member of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools, the JSN collaborates with Jesuit schools across the globe.
History of Jesuits in Michigan
Guided by the motto Ad Majórem Dei Glóriam (AMDG), "For the Greater Glory of God", the Jesuits have long been committed to missionary work and education. The Jesuits’ link to Michigan dates back to the 1600s when exploration of the area paved the way for the establishments of missions.
In 1701, the Jesuits began their mission in Detroit when French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac invited them to serve the new settlement. Father François Vaillant de Gueslis was the first Jesuit to work in the city, establishing Ste. Anne’s Church as a center for religious and community life.
Although forced to leave in 1773 when the order was suppressed, the Jesuits returned to Detroit in the 19th century, founding lasting educational institutions like Detroit College in 1877, today known as University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy which remains a cornerstone of Jesuit education in Detroit.