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Arrupe Award Presented to Universidad Centroamericana Professor
Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., (right) professor at the Universidad Centroamericana in San Salvador, was presented the annual Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award by Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, University President, and The University of Scranton.
The University of Scranton recently presented its annual Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award to Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., professor at the Universidad Centroamericana in San Salvador, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Ignatian-inspired ministries in El Salvador.
Father Brackely’s work in El Salvador began in 1989 after six Jesuit priests and educators, their housekeeper, and her daughter were murdered by the Salvadorian military at the Universidad Centroamericana during the country’s civil war. Brackely, then teaching at Fordham University, felt he could not just mourn these brutal deaths from a distance. Instead, he offered to take the place of one of the Jesuit professors.
Father Brackley has now served as a faculty member at the Universidad Centroamericana for two decades. In addition to teaching theology and ethics courses, he serves as a pastor in a poor urban community in San Salvador. Father Brackley is also an influential voice on current economic and political conditions in El Salvador.
One of Father Brackley’s most notable essays is the “Higher Standards for Higher Education: The Christian University and Solidarity,” which addresses the need for reflection “on what a university must be for the 21st century, especially a Christian, Catholic and Jesuit university.”
Speaking to the University community, Father Brackley thanked Scranton for its commitment to continuing the work of Pedro Arrupe. He also stressed the importance of using the Jesuit spirit to serve our larger communities.
“Education is not just information; it is formation for wisdom,” said Father Brackley. “Community-based learning, internships, clinical partnerships, all those forms of engaging people unlike us, especially poor people, are integral for our quest for academic excellence. They are not frills. They should give rise to unasked questions. They should erode our prejudices. They should expand our horizons.”
Father Brackley’s recognition is part of a yearlong effort at The University of Scranton to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador.
The Arrupe Award is named in honor of the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the superior general of the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983. The University of Scranton instituted the award in 1995 to further its namesake’s vision by recognizing men and women for outstanding contributions in a wide variety of Ignatian-inspired ministries.
Father Brackely’s work in El Salvador began in 1989 after six Jesuit priests and educators, their housekeeper, and her daughter were murdered by the Salvadorian military at the Universidad Centroamericana during the country’s civil war. Brackely, then teaching at Fordham University, felt he could not just mourn these brutal deaths from a distance. Instead, he offered to take the place of one of the Jesuit professors.
Father Brackley has now served as a faculty member at the Universidad Centroamericana for two decades. In addition to teaching theology and ethics courses, he serves as a pastor in a poor urban community in San Salvador. Father Brackley is also an influential voice on current economic and political conditions in El Salvador.
One of Father Brackley’s most notable essays is the “Higher Standards for Higher Education: The Christian University and Solidarity,” which addresses the need for reflection “on what a university must be for the 21st century, especially a Christian, Catholic and Jesuit university.”
Speaking to the University community, Father Brackley thanked Scranton for its commitment to continuing the work of Pedro Arrupe. He also stressed the importance of using the Jesuit spirit to serve our larger communities.
“Education is not just information; it is formation for wisdom,” said Father Brackley. “Community-based learning, internships, clinical partnerships, all those forms of engaging people unlike us, especially poor people, are integral for our quest for academic excellence. They are not frills. They should give rise to unasked questions. They should erode our prejudices. They should expand our horizons.”
Father Brackley’s recognition is part of a yearlong effort at The University of Scranton to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador.
The Arrupe Award is named in honor of the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the superior general of the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983. The University of Scranton instituted the award in 1995 to further its namesake’s vision by recognizing men and women for outstanding contributions in a wide variety of Ignatian-inspired ministries.
