To foster the Louisian core values of Christian Spirit, Competence, Creativity, and Social Involvement, Saint Louis University (SLU) begins each week with its Monday Morning Rites.
SLU Morning Rites is a ceremony that symbolizes the University’s commitment to academic excellence, spiritual grounding, and social responsibility. Its parts and parcels include promotion of national pride, ecological awareness, and community involvement. It fosters a culture of unity, responsibility, and environmental stewardship as consistent elements of the university’s mission.
The program begins with the SLU Prayer, giving the community time to reflect spiritually. In that communal invocation, SLU’s faithful practices are profoundly established by seeking divine guidance for students, faculty, and staff for the challenges and opportunities of the week ahead.
Following the prayer, the community faces the national flag to sing the Philippine National Anthem. This patriotic allegiance proclaims the university’s role in nation-building and commitment to nurturing future leaders. Afterwards, the SLU Quality Policy Statement is presented. The university’s formal declaration turns into reaffirming sustained commitment to standards of high-quality education, research, and service. It reminds the university of its commitment to continuous improvement and dedication to institutional excellence.
A tribute to the missionary spirit driving SLU’s efforts is the CICM Hymn, which precedes the recitation of the SLU Prayer for the Earth. The Ecological Prayer sums up the university’s commitment to environmental sustainability as it works to underscore its broader vision of promoting ecological responsibility.
A distinctive feature of the Morning Rites is the Ecological Trivia, presented by an office designated to lead the program for the week. This segment serves as an educational opportunity to raise awareness regarding environmental issues and advocate for sustainable practices. It may culminate in an interactive activity, such as games or a spirited Zumba session, thereby fostering camaraderie and enhancing community well-being.
The Morning Rites conclude with the singing of the Saint Louis University Hymn, encapsulating the ideals and aspirations of the university in song. As such, this moment heightens a sense of unity and shared purpose across SLU’s community as this ceremony draws close.
The structure of Saint Louis University’s Monday Morning Rites is an initiative to contribute towards the university’s aspiration, without forfeiting its commitment to academic and institutional integrity, toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It adopts consciousness on environmental matters through SLU Prayer for the Environment and the Ecological Trivia while pushing efforts toward Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15). It is more important to note that excellence in education, leadership, and good governance builds directly on Quality Education (SDG 4) while focusing on accountability and responsible leadership builds on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
