The Division of Mission and Identity seeks ways to develop relationships throughout campus that help our students, faculty and staff to see their learning, teaching and research at Duquesne as part of a larger effort to serve the common good. Our numerous programs add to the academic experience on campus in order to help you expand your horizons or to take a break, step back and breathe for a moment amidst all that is going on in our world today.

University Goals

Students prepare for responsible leadership roles in society through a broad-based education in the liberal arts, the very heart and soul of the University. Duquesne believes in the mutual enrichment of faith and reason, and so encourages exploration and discussion of new and controversial ideas. Faculty and staff place a premium on intellectual autonomy and integrity and the pursuit of truth through scholarly research.The core curriculum reflects the mission of the University, especially regarding matters of social justice, diversity, and world concerns. Education that informs the mind, engages the heart, and invigorates the spirit is the guiding vision of the curriculum.

 

Duquesne invites participation in its spiritual life and Catholic traditions, and we retain the openness of our Spiritan founders whose rule calls for dialogue among people of different faiths and harmony among the many cultures of the world. There are dozens of religious traditions and many different cultural backgrounds present in some form on campus. As a Catholic university, Duquesne is called by the Spirit to welcome and partner with people of other religions -- the word catholic literally means universal. We welcome diversity because it enriches us all as intellectual sojourners who live by the Spirit and Mission of the University.

 

The mission of Duquesne University calls for service of others by persons with consciences sensitive to the needs of society. Service exists at the core of the University's Catholic and Spiritan identity. The spirit of service manifests itself in a variety of academic and extracurricular volunteer activities. The majority of our students as well as a large segment of our faculty and staff are involved in volunteer efforts, making Duquesne a leader among American universities in its commitment to service.
The service-learning requirement links academic theory and community-based practice and reflects the Spiritan values of global justice, the kinship of all peoples, and service to others that figure prominently in a Duquesne experience. Literacy in philosophy and theology, the bedrock disciplines of a holistic Catholic education, coupled with the theme areas of faith and reason, global diversity, and social justice in the curriculum reflect the University's Catholic Spiritan commitment. The study of ethics is not only a requirement of the Core but has also been incorporated into all programs.
Students are challenged to find their place in a modern global society. Duquesne's Spiritan charism calls the University to encourage students to come to understand themselves as world citizens who are intimately linked to, and therefore called to work for, a peaceful and just world.

Mission, Vision and Values

Learn about the Our Spiritan Tradition
The Spiritan Congregation began in France in 1703. Theirs is a story that spans more than three centuries, criss-crosses continents in war-time and in peace, and features the selflessness of thousands of priests, brothers and lay persons who have forgone society's aspirations to power, prestige, and wealth. Rather, they made and continue to make profound sacrifices to minister to the poor and disadvantaged. The Spiritan commitment to serving the disadvantaged led to the founding of Duquesne University -- then a secondary school -- as a school for the immigrant poor in Pittsburgh. Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a Catholic university founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritans, and sustained through a partnership of laity and religious. Through campus-wide collaboration we work to integrate the Spiritan mission of the University into all aspects of campus life as seamlessly as possible.
Under the direction of the Division of Mission of Identity, the Center for Catholic Faith and Culture, the Center for Spiritan Studies and Spiritan Campus Ministry encourage students, faculty and staff to visualize their work as part of a larger effort to serve the common good.
  • Commitment to excellence in liberal and professional education
  • Profound concern for moral and spiritual values
  • Maintaining an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity
  • Service to the Church, the community, the nation, and the world

Our Spiritan Identity

Fr. Ray French

Duquesne University is a community of scholars who live the Spiritan-led commitment of service to all and who share God's wisdom and academia's knowledge with those who seek it.

The Rev. Raymond French, C.S.Sp. Vice President for Mission and Identity

Spiritans in Action

While the members of the Division of Mission and Identity are not out doing their usual workshops and presentations on the Spiritans, we hope you will enjoy some of the videos below that give some great insight on the Congregation of the Holy Spirit

Photo of children from Africa smiling at the camera

Spiritans in Mission

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Catholic religious congregation founded in France in 1703. Also known as the Spiritans, our mission for more than 300 years has been to evangelize the poor and marginalized all over the world.

Photo of Fr. Francis Libermann

Fr. Francis Mary Paul Libermann

This excellent short video is the translation into English of a video produced in France by Fr. Jean-Yves Urfié, C.S.Sp. Fr. Jean-Yves used Dennis Woytek's beautiful anchor's voice for voice-over comments. Dennis is an American retired prof. of Video (Multimedia Dept.) at Duquesne University.

A photo of St. Etienne du Mont

Poorest of the Poor - St Étienne du Mont

This short video shows the place (at the head of St Étienne-du-Mont church) where the Founder of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit was buried in a mass grave.

Annual Events

All Mission & Identity Events
2026 Run for Tengeru Duquesne Heritage Week 5K

Run for Tengeru 5K

Employee RSVP! Heritage Week will be kicking off with a 5K to raise money for the Spiritan-led Tengeru Boys School in northern Tanzania! Student registration is only $5 and employee registration is only $20! All proceeds benefit the Tengeru School. First 50 registrations get a free race day t-shirt!

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  • Academic Walk
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Heritage Week Luncheon

Heritage Week Luncheon

RSVP! Please join us for our annual Heritage Week luncheon where Fr. Marc Whelan of the Irish Province will be sharing his journeys and how we came to serve at Duquesne. Fr. Marc is the new Director for the Center for Spiritan Studies, and is excited to meet members of the campus community. 

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  • Spiritan Room
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Meet and Greet with the Centers for Catholic Faith and Culture & Spiritan Studies

Meet and Greet with the Centers for Catholic Faith and Culture & Spiritan Studies

RSVP! Stop by for a bite to eat and meet some of our new staff in the Division of Mission and Identity!  Alek Schrenk (Center for Catholic Faith and Culture), Fr. Marc Whelan (Center for Spiritan Studies), and Fr. Michel Protain (Spiritan Scholar in Residence) will be there for a lunchtime meet and

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  • Spiritan Room
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Banner Making and Birthday

Banner Making and Birthday

Register! Student groups can register to attend this annual event where we will be making banners reflective of each student organization.  The banners will be hung on the Student Union Perron during Spirit Week and Homecoming & Family Weekend!

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  • Towers MPR
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148th University Birthday

University Birthday Party

RSVP! Come on out as we celebrate Duquesne’s 148th birthday!  We will have games, fun food, giveaways, and a chance to sing Happy Birthday as we cut the birthday cake!

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  • Academic Walk
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Mission and Identity

Rev. Raymond French, C.S.Sp.