Brother James J. Boynton, S.J., was named the thirtieth president of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in July after serving as interim president for seven months. He’s certainly one of the primary Jesuit brothers to function president of a Jesuit secondary school. He has worked in a wide range of roles at the college, including as teacher, department chair, advancement officer and principal. I spoke to Brother Boynton about what it means to run certainly one of the few Catholic high schools in town of Detroit and the way being a Jesuit brother shapes his leadership style. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
M.T.R.: U. of D. Jesuit was founded in 1877. How has the college modified over time? Has it modified together with town?
J.B: How has the college modified with town? I’d actually prefer to flip that query on its head and make the purpose that we haven’t modified.
There have been once over 30 Catholic high schools in town of Detroit. But after the Detroit riots in 1967, and slowly following it, all of those schools closed. U. of D. Jesuit is the one school of the unique schools before the riots that continues to be in town. All the remainder went to the suburbs. And so, we made a conscious commitment, a strategic decision to remain in town of Detroit and to be committed to town. Had we moved outside town to the suburbs, we’d probably be thrice the dimensions we’re straight away and wouldn’t look anything like we glance straight away.
Just some extent of clarification, there at the moment are two other Catholic schools in town, Detroit Cristo Rey High School, sponsored by the Basilian Fathers, and Loyola High School, sponsored by the Jesuits. But of those original 30, we’re the just one left.
There have been once over 30 Catholic high schools in town of Detroit. There at the moment are three.
That call to remain has really formed the identity of the college in a giant way within the last 50 years.
That’s correct. It forms who we’re, our identity of being Jesuit Catholic. Being in town of Detroit and the variety that comes with that, not only our student body, but our faculty and staff—that may be a huge a part of who we’re. We’re racially and economically diverse, and that’s a giant a part of our strength. And [our student body] is now over a 3rd African American and other minorities.
What are a few of the biggest challenges you’re facing as you start your tenure?
This yr, we’re back within the classroom 100%. I don’t wish to be naïve and say that Covid is behind us, but our response to Covid has grown and altered and developed, and we’re capable of roughly live normal lives now. I’m undecided that anyone realized the psychological effect that Covid would have on not only students, but in addition faculty and staff, and that’s still there.
What are a few of the most enjoyable things happening straight away?
Under the vision of our last president, Ted Munz, S.J., we purchased a recreation center that was abandoned for 15 years just north of the college. It gives us one other means to be committed to town of Detroit and to interact with our neighbors and partner with the community. This community center, which was closed, is now open and available to the members of the community, not simply to our students.
Being a brother within the Society of Jesus, in a way it’s the road less traveled, however it’s a very cool road.
Could you speak a bit of bit about how you made the decision to be a brother?
I joined the Jesuits at age 20. After which it was in the course of the 30-day long retreat, the silent retreat, that I clearly saw Jesus as my brother. And that’s how I need to relate to other people on this planet, with the people who I minister with, that I live with, my family, friends and community.
To today, that’s how I see myself regarding people. And I adore it. Being a brother within the Society of Jesus, in a way it’s the road less traveled, however it’s a very cool road.
How will your identity as a Jesuit brother inform your role as a pacesetter of the college?
Well, a priest is in front of the people, preaches, does the sacraments and ministry. A priest acts, in line with the Latin term, as an alter Christus, within the place of Jesus Christ. And I feel that’s wonderful and I really like that.
I need to be Jim Boynton. I need to be me. It allows me to completely be me and to guide from inside. We have now a leadership team here of eight people. And I do know that I’m the president, and I do know that all of them report back to me; but we sit across the table. I don’t sit at the pinnacle of the table. I don’t all the time lead the meeting. I don’t all the time open it up with a prayer. Other people do this.
You were recently a part of a gaggle of Jesuit brothers who met with Pope Francis. What was that like?
We talked about all the problems you discuss with young people today, whatever the problem is perhaps, anything from Covid to mental health, to sexual identity, to you name it. The Holy Father said when he was a soccer coach, he said, he all the time told the children, “Follow the ball or lose. Know where the soccer ball goes and go there.” So, be there on the vital junctures of those kids’ lives and help them, help them to kick that ball.
He also said, “Beg for joy in your prayer.” And he said, “For those who do this, you’ll be able to have consolation even when all the pieces’s not perfect and all the pieces’s not right.” And I believed those were good words of recommendation. To not have fear in the long run. Go forward even for those who don’t know where you’re going. But go forward.
