Greetings from Mission and Ministry!

As I write this message, many in our Santa Clara University community are observing special, sacred seasons. For Christians, this is the 40 days of Lent, and for Muslims, the 29-30 days of Ramadan (which varies slightly based on the moon). We are especially blessed to mark these times together this year, for it allows us to see and celebrate the echoes and interplays of each of these great world religions. Together, they call us to reflection and prayer, to freeing ourselves from forces and ideas that entrap us, to a deeper care for those around us, and to a fuller life of faith and purpose. 

One central feature of Jesuit education is its invitation to change, to be transformed. St. Ignatius’ experience of his own life was that he became more alive, more free when he opened himself up to God’s love and mercy and engaged in care and service of those around him. The sacred seasons we celebrate call us to this same kind of change and transformation, and they take on all the more meaning in our current time and moment, when so much can seem uncertain and in flux. Crucially, they offer us a vision of hope-filled possibilities that we can and will – with God’s grace – live more fully the vision of peace and justice for which we long in our hearts.  

Here on campus, we see Lent and Ramadan being lived out in big and small ways – standing-room only crowds in the Mission Church on Ash Wednesday, Iftar dinners among friends and the making and delivering of Ramadan snack packs, and more intentional prayer and journaling and spiritual conversations with our campus ministers and spiritual facilitators in the residence halls. Our Mission and Ministry team has the privilege of accompanying the community on this journey, and this issue describes efforts that are directly related to these seasons and others that are part of the larger process of transformation in our students’ lives.

Chocolate, Iftar, and Finding Belonging

"My faith is something I don’t really get a chance to talk about," Mahnoor shared. "So I appreciate Campus Ministry’s efforts to provide a space for us ... I feel really, really heard."

Our Campus Ministry team strives to create spaces of belonging, so that Mahnoor and her Muslim peers and students from all traditions and backgrounds feel that they have a home in our office and on campus. As Mahnoor graciously shared a bit of her story with us, we cherish the gift of listening to one another’s stories, and are reminded that unity within our diversity is what builds a beloved community.

Read Elizabeth's full story here

Caminos Al Bienestar | A Shared Journey to Wellness

Universities serve as a hub for research and education, but their potential extends far beyond campus. When institutions commit to community engagement, they become key players in addressing social disparities, including those related to mental health. Through outreach initiatives, universities can leverage their expertise and resources to promote social impact. By incorporating mental health initiatives into their community engagement efforts, Santa Clara University is doing just that, fulfilling a dual purpose: contributing to public wellbeing and preparing students for real-world challenges.

My Ignatian Journey in the Advancement of Justice

Rooted in the Ignatian Examen, Ana Karen Barragán reflects on her 20+ years of Ignatian formation that have shaped her journey to becoming the Director of Mission Engagement at Santa Clara University. From her perspective, the diverse and profound ways we experience Jesuit education and mission are both our greatest strength and our most significant challenge.

MAR 15 | Campus Ministry hosted a Holi Celebration, the Hindu festival of colors that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, complete with featuring food, music, dancing and playing with colors. 

MAR 19 | We hosted the University Founders’ Day Celebration with a special mass and lunch for SCU faculty, staff, and students.

MAR 22 | We led 24 students on the week-long Appalachia Immersion to learn about labor and environmental justice and the San Francisco Immersion to encounter our common humanity.

MAR 31 - APR 4 | The Ignatian Center's Arrupe Engagement is kicking off the spring quarter with an anticipated 400+ students registering for their Experiential Learning for Social Justice (ELSJ) component of SCU's core curriculum.

APR 3 | Campus Ministry will be taking 16 students to Los Angeles for the Ignatian Q Conference, a conference for LGBTQ+ undergraduate students at Jesuit universities.

APR 4 |  The Jesuit School of Theology is hosting Together at the Table | An International Gathering Inspiring Synodal Action in Mission, featuring keynote speaker Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

APR 14 - 17 | The Ignatian Center is hosting 32 faculty and staff on an Ignatian Yoga Retreat in Villa Maria del Mar Retreat Center, Santa Cruz.

APR 22 | Campus Ministry is hosting a Service Worker Gratitude Breakfast to celebrate and thank our amazing SCU service workers for all they do in our university community!

MAY 7 | The Ignatian Center is hosting the spring session of Search for What Matters featuring Dr. Hooria Jazaieri, Assistant Professor of Management in the Leavey School of Business.

MAY 9 - 11 | Campus Ministry is hosting an Ignatian Spring Retreat for students at the beautiful St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista.