Spiritus est qui vivificat —"It is the Spirit who gives life"

The words of our motto reflect our faith that Duquesne University is directed in its course and sustained in all its efforts by the Holy Spirit of God. We express this dedication to the Spirit in our statement of mission.

Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a Catholic University, founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, the Spiritans, and sustained through a partnership of laity and religious. Duquesne serves God by serving students – through commitment to excellence in liberal and professional education, through profound concern for moral and spiritual values, through the maintenance of an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity, and through service to the Church, the community, the nation, and the world.

Reflection on the movements of the Spirit through our past awakens us to the Spirit's presence in Duquesne University today and enlightens us to its guidance as we advance into the future. The Mission of Duquesne University reveals that our past, present and future are woven into the one continuous effort of advancing the Reign of God in the world through the liberation of humanity from everything that offends dignity and freedom. This value was eloquently expressed by Father Libermann, an exceptional Spiritan leader, in his Spiritan Rule of Life of 1849 when he mandated that Spiritans must make themselves, "…the advocates, the supporters, and the defenders of the weak and the little ones against all who oppress them."

We move towards this ultimate purpose in different ways at different times, open to the Spirit as it reveals itself in the changing circumstances of contemporary society. The goals of Duquesne University determine the means through which our Mission becomes a lived reality. The Mission is embodied in the lives of our students, alumni, faculty, administrators and staff, whose pursuit of the goals of Duquesne transforms our own campus community and extends outwards into the world.