The Canizaro Center for Catholic Studies

Joseph C. Canizaro has presented Loyola with an incredibly generous $5 million gift, which will establish the new Canizaro Center for Catholic Studies at Loyola. This major investment in Loyola’s future reflects the importance of our work in delivering an education grounded in Ignatian Spirituality and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Mr. Canizaro is a longtime friend and supporter of our university and its students. In the 1980s, his generosity allowed many Loyola students to make pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, and share in the community created around the reported appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He continued his support of Loyola with generous gifts in subsequent years to Catholic Studies and to the Chapel of St. Ignatius and Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center. It’s important to note that he is not a Loyola alumnus. He chooses to support us because our mission resonates so deeply with his faith.

This transformative gift positions Loyola to become a leader in Catholic studies in the United States and on an international level. An endowed fund will support the hiring of new faculty, grow resources for students (such as retreats, international service pilgrimages, and high school student faith development programs), educate K-12 Catholic elementary teachers, and provide scholarships for Loyola students to study abroad in Rome.

Fr. Mark Mossa, SJ serves as the Interim Director for the Canizaro Center during the 2023-2024 academic year. We continue to live out a vision of Catholic faith in the Loyola community through service, learning, and worship.