Jesuit Identity

The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius Loyola and his companions. The Jesuit mission is a mission of reconciliation, working so that women and men can be reconciled with God, with themselves, with each other and with God's creation.

Independent, yet united in a shared mission, Jesuit schools share a common vision and a common sense of purpose.

Jesuit Sponsorship

As a Jesuit high school Cheverus is sponsored by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus and is one of 60 Jesuit high schools across the country. Every six years the school undertakes a Jesuit Sponsorship Review, which includes a self-study by the school, a school visit by a team of outside faculty and staff, and an action plan aimed at helping the school fulfill its Jesuit mission. The review process is guided by Standards and Benchmarks for Jesuit Schools of the 21st Century and culminates in the Provincial's renewal of the school's Sponsorship Agreement. This rigorous process is akin to an accreditation process.

As a Jesuit sponsored school, Cheverus is part of the largest global educational network of more than 900 schools. As a Jesuit school in North America, Cheverus is a member of the Jesuit Schools Network. All Jesuit schools strive to graduate students who possess the desire and the personal resources to be people for and with others. The shared goal is to help form leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion who will work for justice and quality of life for all, who care for one another, and are committed to the community in which they live.

Over the course of their more than 475-year history, Jesuit schools have relied on a dynamic partnership between Jesuit and lay colleagues. As the number of Jesuits has decreased nationwide, the role of laity in Jesuit schools has increased. This shift is also rooted in the Second Vatican Council which recognized laity as active members of the Church who make essential contributions to the vitality of the Church.

Jesuit Partnerships

Urban Catholic Teacher Corps

Established in 1997, the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps (UCTC) is dedicated to the ministry of education. Originally focused on developing teachers within the Archdiocese of Boston, in 2025, Cheverus and Boston College forged a relationship that brought the UCTC program to Maine, marking the only program placement outside the Archdiocese of Boston. Rooted in the five-century-old Jesuit legacy of formative instruction, UCTC offers a teacher preparation program that is both experientially deep and academically demanding. In the 2026-2027 school year, Cheverus will host two UCTC teachers, one first-year and one second-year teacher.

Jesuit Volunteer Corps

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) is a post-graduate volunteer program that places young adults to live and work in solidarity with marginalized populations across the United States, guided by seventy years of history and four core values: spirituality, simple living, community, and social justice. At Cheverus, Jesuit Volunteers serve in our Campus Ministry office as the school's service coordinator.