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Elizabeth
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Heart in my throat here; it's all the way across this big, huge country. But...does anybody have anything to say about the University of Portland? Right now, all our info is soccer-related.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Katie
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I don't know much, except we used to live right around the corner and go to Mass there (we were not associated with the university). The priests were great! The music was wonderful, too.
Sorry not much help, but the trip down Memory Lane was nice.
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Elizabeth
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Katie wrote:
The priests were great! The music was wonderful, too.
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Really?! That's encouraging...maybe we'll all move to Portland...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MaryM
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Elizabeth wrote:
Katie wrote:
The priests were great! The music was wonderful, too.
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Really?! That's encouraging...maybe we'll all move to Portland... |
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Not to discourage you from moving west - which we'd all love, but the Portland archdiocese would be a shock for you - it is generally more liberal. I don't know if Katie was referring specifically to the priests she knew at UP but in general you have to choose carefully in Portland for a parish. I'm trying to gather my thoughts to post more, Elizabeth. My oldest son just finished his college search and decision process. U of Portland was his second choice (was top for awhile) but not for it's Catholic identity. And we know people whose children attend currently.
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MichelleW
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We have lived in the Portland area for 10 years and attended three parishes (we've moved several times). Each and every parish we attended was very theologically conservative (the parish we currently attend allows female altar servers, but I don't think I would categorize that as theological). I confess I don't know much about the archdiocese itself, but all the parish priests in the diocese in my experience have been so solid.
I have a friend coming over this morning who just finished her Master's with University of Portland. I'll ask her for some thoughts. What course of study is your son considering?
Michelle
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Elizabeth
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MichelleW wrote:
What course of study is your son considering?
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Soccer 
Seriously, he doesn't really know. He's looking at Media studies. Art is his love but he's afraid he'll never make a living at it, so he's looking to minor in that. UP has no art at all. That would be huge negative, but not a deal-breaker.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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Mary,
What did your son ultimately decide?
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Katie
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There are indeed several liberal parishes in the area. To be honest, I couldn't tell you much about the theology, but the one with the John Denver wannabe leading the music stands out.....
We did often go to a parish nearby that was huge and thriving and very orthodox in a socially progressive way. The music rotated; one week it was a gospel choir, the next a more traditional choir, the nexta husband and wife team who were wonderful. I enjoyed the variety.
Nearby in North Portland is a very traditional Latin-rite Mass. That was beautiful, too.
We were parish hunting. Can you tell?
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MichelleW
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MichelleW wrote:
I have a friend coming over this morning who just finished her Master's with University of Portland. I'll ask her for some thoughts. |
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Whoops, she went to Portland State University. Not the same thing at all. Sorry I am absolutely no help, but I wanted to be, does that count?
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Sarah
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Elizabeth wrote:
| Art is his love but he's afraid he'll never make a living at it, so he's looking to minor in that. |
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Very smart. My brother is suffering SO much as an artist. Finances are so bad for him and his young family.  I wish he had minored in it.
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MaryM
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OK, I finally have some time to write, Elizabeth.
First, I apologize for jumping in with the generalizations about Portland parishes. Just knowing where Elizabeth currently lives, and my own experience living in a very orthodox diocese, the Archdiocese of Portland would be a big change. It's not that there aren't solid parishes there - there are and thank God you have had good experiences, Michelle. My brother who lives there has found a parish he likes as well. My parents who live in the Baker, OR diocese visit Portland often and have been to many of the churches there - my perspective mostly comes from them. It's more that the parishes are liturgically liberal than theologically although there are those too. - so I should have clarified that.
MichelleW wrote:
| Whoops, she went to Portland State University. Not the same thing at all. Sorry I am absolutely no help, but I wanted to be, does that count? |
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Oh, I know those two universities get mixed up all the time. And you certainly can help MIchael with the persepctive of living in Portland in general - the weather, culture, activities, etc.
So, on to the University of Portland. I know that women's soccer there is really strong (they won the national championship in 2005, right?) and men's must have a good program too, if Michael is interested, huh? The soccer fields/facilities there did seem really nice - it’s a beautiful location of the fields. Maybe that's a good place to start - UP has a great location up on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River. It's just beautiful. The campus is pretty compact so easy to get around it. Not much new growth or buildings on the campus. I have heard they have purchased quite a bit of adjacent land and have plans to expand. Because of it's location it is sort of isolated in a residential area - not a lot of amenities right around the University.
What my son liked most about UP:
The staff and students we had contact with were extremely helpful and friendly. They seemed genuinely interested in him and made a lot of personal contact (not just form letters) - like personal notes as a follow-up to our visit. Their size is part of their ability to do that.
The food service options he thought were really good and diverse for its size.
The faculty to student ratio is very good.
Portland is a great city to live/spend time. It is very vibrant and there is a lot to do.
His two favorite uncles live there - (not a draw for Michael, I know  .)
You asked what David decided. Ultimately he would have been happy there, it was just that he felt more drawn to another place but overall UP is a good school. So he is going to be attending another small, Catholic liberal arts school in the Northwest - Gonzaga University. I would assure you that he didn't make the decision because of anything against Portland - he did like the school quite a bit. The decision making came down to just a sense of liking the actual campus amenities (library, athletic center, business building, chapel) better at GU. Also, Gonzaga has a stronger business school and it is better known which hopefully translates into more marketability for him outside of the northwest. And then the dollars - Gonzaga offered him a larger financial aid package - although Portland's was very good also.
The University of Portland is run by the Holy Cross fathers - like Notre Dame, so that may give you some perspective. It is one of four Holy Cross universities in the country. The chapel on campus is not really attractive - it's very plain and probably built in the 1960-70's, kwim. Since we didn't get to attend a Mass there I don't really know what it is like liturgically. The admissions people told us they have really good attendance at the dorm Masses which I think occur at least weekly - each residence hall has a chaplain in residence.
My next thoughts on faith life/Catholic identity have to be taken with the realization that we ultimately opted for a school that depending how you look at it doesn’t necessarily have the strongest Catholic identity either. The somewhat of an unknown is the faith life/Catholic identity on campus at UP. I got vague info to some of my questions and the fact that what one person might see as a great faith community another might see in a different light. It definitely depends on what an individual is looking for. When I asked about the mandatum the admissions counselor at a college fair she assured me that they did "have it" but didn't really know anythign about it. Nothing I have seen in listings of schools the publicly state their theology professors have the mandatum has listed UP. When we were actually on campus I asked again and the admissions associate really didn't seem to have an understanding of what it was herself, but knew that she had been assured by the Theology Department that they "were in compliance." I was never really able to get a definitive answer on that and didn't myself talk to the Theology department before he made his decision.
This is the quote from their Theology Department page and is the only mention of Ex Corde Ecclesiae anywhere on the website or their materials.
"The Department of Theology has a prominent role at the University of Portland. From a Catholic ecumenical perspective it provides a foundation for critical, spiritual, and ethical reflection; theological scholarship; and pastoral service on campus and in local churches. In the spirit of Ex corde Ecclesiae the Department contributes to the manner in which service to God and humanity is valued and personified in our graduates."
The term "in the spirit of ex corde ecclesiae" is so reminscent of the use of the term "in the spirit of Vatican II" and we know how that is used as a catch phrase to personal interpretation. I would have to add UP to the list of colleges were that status is deliberately vague.
You can see from reading their theology courses that one would need to pick and choose which courses to take - not all look particularly orthodox. I wouldn't recommend anyone actually majoring in theology here.
It doesn't have a reputation for being a dissident Catholic universtiy like some, but neither does it have a strong orthodox identity.
I feel like I am rambling and have gone on too long. My cousin's daughter attends the Univeristy of Portland currently, and I have heard through the family grapevine she is very happy there (was a Seton homeschooler through 8th grade if that helps). I would get in touch with her for further info if you guys need me to - if the interest goes further.
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Topic: University of Portland
