Mission and Identity Retreat Benefits Faculty Members

Over spring break, Leena Pendharkar, associate professor in the LMU School of Film and Television, attended a faculty writing retreat in Simi Valley, California, hosted by the Center for Mission and Identity. The retreat, five days and four nights, had participants set aside the demands and distractions of campus and home routines, and take time in a peaceful environment to benefit their work as teacher-scholars at LMU. "One theme that came up continually in all of the workshops and faculty discussions was around how much we all care about and respect the university mission, and especially the commitment to social justice," said Pendharkar. "We all teach at LMU because we believe very much in it. I hope all faculty eventually get to do this."

During the retreat, the Center for Mission and Identity offered mindfulness activities and evening sessions on a variety of topics related to LMU's mission, Ignatian identity, and participants' own understanding of vocation at the university. Kat Brown, director of Mission and Identity Programs in the Center for Mission and Identity, said the majority of retreat time was unstructured for participants to use however they felt appropriate. "The writing retreat is a chance to step away from usual rhythms and obligations and arrive in a place where participants can reconnect with their creative or scholarly work, with themselves and their sense of meaning and purpose, and with colleagues," said Brown. "A lot of work gets done, but there's also ample time for simply slowing down, practicing presence, and being in community."

The retreat also deeply formed and strengthen relationships among faculty members from across the university. "I had such a great time getting to know faculty from all over LMU. I have been a full time, tenure-track faculty member for 10 years, and have never spent this much time with faculty from other departments," said Pendharkar. "It was really very fun and rewarding to hear all about the research, teaching and other endeavors that faculty from other parts of campus are engaged in."

Brown said the Center for Mission and Identity "seeks to support every faculty member in their work as teacher-scholars and to extend cura personalis (care of the whole person). The practice of 'retreating' to a peaceful place for focus and fruitfulness has deep roots in the Ignatian and Catholic traditions, as well as many other spiritual traditions," said Brown. "With that in mind, the Center for Mission and Identity hopes that the retreat provides faculty members with important material support for their scholarly and creative work; we also hope that each person on the retreat, whatever their spirituality or worldview, can experience the kind of 'contemplative rest' that fosters renewed connection with their sense of calling and mission in the world."