Our Jesuit Tradition

As a Jesuit college preparatory high school, Fairfield Prep shares a rich heritage of more than 450 years stretching back to the life and religious experience of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits).

Founded in 1942, Fairfield Prep is situated on the 200 acre campus of Fairfield University. We are the only Jesuit Catholic secondary school in Connecticut, with a diverse student body representing 54 different towns. Prep’s mission is to form young men of intellectual competence, who possess the conscience to make wise decisions, a compassion for others, and a commitment to justice in our global society.

As a Catholic school, Prep helps young men to grow in their faith and understanding of the teachings of the Church and to learn to put their faith into action in the service of others. We welcome students of all faiths, believing that conscious reflection on one’s faith, whatever it may be, leads to spiritual maturity and a commitment to serve others.

Prep is part of a world-wide network of educational institutions that embrace and carry out the Jesuit mission of educating young men and women to be leaders in every aspect of contemporary society.

Ignatian schools in the Jesuit tradition benefit from the pedagogy and spirituality of St. Ignatius. We promote Christ's justice and love for all people and bring the message of the Gospel to future generations, while functioning as apostolates of education. 

Jesuit schools are “guided by a spirituality that seeks justice... Inspired by the tenets of Catholic social teaching and its intellectual and social justice traditions, a Jesuit education places great emphasis on forming ‘women and men for others.’ Students are engaged in a process of exploring the distinctive and constructive ways in which their knowledge and talents will best serve society.”

A Fairfield Prep education centers on the education of the whole person: mind, spirit and body. The Jesuits call this cura personalis (Latin for “care for the whole person”) and is accomplished through a holistic curriculum that encompasses both the classroom and the world around us.