Q&A with Fr. Casey Beaumier, S.J.

As the new Vice President for Mission and Ministry, what excites you most about stepping into this role, and how do you see Mission and Ministry shaping the student experience at Boston College?

My hope is that we in Mission and Ministry might work to think more creatively about how to reach and engage as many students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends with the various offerings of our division. The programming of the division is excellent and it excites me to be able to contribute to its continued success.

For families who may not be familiar, what is the Division of Mission and Ministry, and how does its work connect to Boston College’s Jesuit, Catholic identity?

Our work is about the formation of the interior life, or the development of students outside of class. For members of our Boston College community—we steward for Boston College what I like to call the “School of the Heart.”  We contribute to the formational hope of our Jesuit, Catholic University by keeping its mission fresh and energetic. The division is immensely creative and it’s a joy to be able to further the influence of the University’s mission.

From retreats and service immersion programs to faith-sharing groups and interfaith initiatives, Mission and Ministry provides many opportunities for reflection and growth. What programs or experiences have you found to be especially transformative for students?

I think of myself as an apostle for our first-year students, and I believe that with offices like First Year Experience (FYE), offerings like Orientation and Compass Mentoring are utterly foundational to our students as they begin their lives at Boston College. We want to do whatever we can to help our students begin their journey in an outstanding way. The retreats are all wonderful and transformative, helping students connect and engage with each other authentically. I believe that every Boston College student ought to make at least one retreat during her or his time at the University. 

How can parents and families encourage their students—regardless of faith background—to explore the opportunities within Mission and Ministry and integrate reflection, purpose, and service into their BC journey?

The mission of our University, I think, can be likened to a beautiful campfire. It is open to anyone, and our job in Mission and Ministry is to make that fire as attractive as possible for everyone to gather around. People love the light of our mission, the warmth of the spirit of Boston College, and the community experience that the University provides. I urge for parents and families to be encouraging of their sons and daughters to participate. Pay attention to the offerings and then advocate for students to come to them! We cannot force our students to participate in the life of the University, but if all of us are creative in our encouragement, I believe that the students will respond positively.

Boston College places great emphasis on formation—the development of the whole person. How does Mission and Ministry collaborate with Student Affairs and other campus partners to support students’ holistic growth?

I love Student Affairs, and in particular, Residential Life. I probably would not be a Jesuit had I not been involved in Residential Life at the Jesuit university I attended. Our division has a beautiful, collaborative relationship with Student Affairs and I only see that friendship continue to deepen in the coming years. Between the two divisions, we have a shared love for our students’ experience, and all of us want to do what we can to be encouraging. We recently offered a Candlelight Mass outdoors—God in the Mods. This was a collaborative effort with Student Affairs, and students expressed appreciation and enjoyment for the experience. We want to do more of that so we can more freely enter into the lives of our students and help to influence them to seek a greater good for their lives. Both divisions hold students close to their hearts and we want to see our students thrive. 

When you think about the lasting impact you hope Mission and Ministry will have on Boston College students, what do you most want them to carry with them beyond the Heights?

I would love for all of our students to say with sincerity of heart that they felt cared for during their time at Boston College, and that their interior lives received encouragement and opportunity to become stronger—and that they have carried that care for the formation of the interior life with them beyond the Heights.