Early Jesuits

As a third-generation Italian-American I thirst for meaning towards my heritage. Not only do I wish to accomplish personal endeavors, but I believe that I owe my relatives this history and knowledge in exchange for all the opportunities and success they have allowed me to withhold.

While exploring my identity I have found other personal characteristics that I wish to learn more about. Alongside Italian-Americanism, I also characterize my personal being towards Chrisitanity and scholarly pursuits, akin to my ancestors. I have already studied Christianity and Italian immigration in various forms and methods, but I have yet to approach it from a personal perspective.

As a Christian, Italian-American student at Santa Clara University, I have access to answers to the many questions I have. Therefore, I have developed research to tell the story of the founding of Santa Clara College, particularly within the lines of the Jesuits. To do so, I have examined primary and secondary sources that expand my own findings and promote well-defined information. In order to draw conclusions on how the Jesuits founded the successful Santa Clara College, I have researched the history of Jesuits and their origins in California as well as the Mission Santa Clara. Merging this mountain of history together, I have been able to construct a solid telling of the religion, values and mission Santa Clara University was built on which I can then allocate towards my own personal and familial identity. 

Credit: Vanessa Sordello