IMAGINING THE

Now

Imaginingthe Possibilities

Then

When Blessed Basil Moreau opened the first Holy Cross schools in France, he took on an unorthodox approach to education. For these schools to gain credibility during a time of anti-Catholic bias in post-Revolutionary France, Moreau fought to include subjects such as science in the curriculum so that students were engaged and conversant with the issues of the day. He introduced extracurricular activities, namely music and fencing, because it was important to teach not just the mind but also the heart. These values, which we take for granted today, were out-of-the-box thinking during Moreau’s time and represent the distinct charism of a Holy Cross education.

A steel beam signed by the Saint Francis community; construction at various stages

Today we continue to build on Moreau’s vision that “education is the art of helping young people to completeness,” and we’re excited about what is to come in the new Innovation Center, in which we foresee an incalculable number of possibilities. This facility, the first to be constructed as part of the Light the Way comprehensive campaign, was designed to foster community and collaboration, creativity and curiosity. We already had a glimpse of what can be possible when we educate students in innovative ways.

Last spring, we celebrated a partnership with Santa Clara University. Under the guidance of a neuroscientist from Santa Clara’s BioInnovation and Design Lab, nine students developed a virtual reality app that measures biofeedback through pulse sensors to enhance calm and address mental health. The event was a showcase of student ingenuity and real-world learning experiences. How transformative would it be if we could offer additional hands-on meaningful opportunities for even more students to work with industry professionals? The Innovation Center will be the space for such collaborative work.

Imagine further if a group of STEM-minded girls designed a prototype during an after-school seminar led by an alumna in one of the maker spaces of the Innovation Center. What if the 3D Printing Club joined forces with the Environmental Club on a sustainability project? Picture middle schoolers from the Ave Crux program honing public speaking skills, coached by members of our speech team in the black box theater. And as these experiences play out, imagine if other students, parents, educators or anyone from the community could see what was happening and as a result, they couldn’t help but to be present in these moments by offering words of encouragement or simply being amazed at what is going on. What’s more, these serendipitous interactions lead observers to not just one student project but multiple collaborations happening simultaneously inside and outside the Innovation Center. We are confident that these collisions of encounter will create spark and magic, energy and excitement for all who experience the Innovation Center.

We will bless the Innovation Center on Jan. 20, 2023, fittingly the feast day of Blessed Basil Moreau, which celebrates the man whose innovative ideas of education continue to inspire us every day. We don’t know yet what will take place in this hub of potential and possibilities, but we can’t wait to get started.