Messages, Remarks, and News

Happy Thanksgiving from University of Portland

Dear Members of the University of Portland Family,

Where does your mind go when you think of the word, “home”?

Perhaps “home” inspires thoughts of gathering with loved ones. Perhaps the word makes you think of a particular place, setting, or tradition. Perhaps it conjures feelings of warmth, embrace, safety, comfort, and joy.

Personally, thinking about “home” inspires many of these feelings, but there’s something more. For me, home is a place where folks are known and loved – unconditionally and without exception – for all of who they are.

In the days ahead, many of us will travel to a place we call “home.” On our respective journeys, I hope we might take a moment to consider the significance of “home” in our lives. As students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters of the University of Portland, my prayer is that we might also think of the ways in which UP serves as our home on The Bluff; a Catholic, Holy Cross University that inspires a sense of warmth, embrace, safety, comfort, and joy, and where each of us feels known and loved – unconditionally and without exception – for all of who we are.

Recently, our teams on campus prepared "Welcome Home," the video linked above. If you follow UP on social media or receive our communications, you will start to see this video more and more in the months ahead. I wanted to be the first to share it with you. I hope that viewing it reminds us - students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters - that UP is a place that we can all call home.

I wish you safe travels on your journey home, however the term may be defined in your life. Know that the University of Portland is, and always will be, your home on The Bluff.

God Bless, Happy Thanksgiving, and Go Pilots.

Sincerely,