Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry supports the spiritual wellness of all students at 杏吧视频. Because we are 聽grounded in the Catholic, Jesuit traditions, we welcome people of all faiths, religions, spiritual identities, and those seeking a relationship and connection with creation, community, and self. 聽- 聽The professional ministry staff is committed to building a campus community and supporting the full humanity of all people by fostering spirituality, wellness, and belonging. In addition to six full-time campus ministers, the office includes student ministry interns, spirituality facilitators in the residence halls, and desk assistants who foster hospitality. Our stance in Campus Ministry reflects our shared Jesuit values that the Spirit comes alive when we work for justice in the world.

What does Campus Ministry have to offer?

Worship: During the academic year, we sponsor three Sunday liturgies in the Mission Church, daily noon Mass, and annual Masses celebrating the University鈥檚 Catholic and Jesuit traditions. Throughout the year, the campus community is invited to participate in Misas en Espa帽ol, the sacrament of reconciliation, and prayer services across campus to mark religious and secular holidays across all faith denominations.
Mosaic Ministry: This ministry supports a wide variety of cultural identity and faith-based student-led organizations. 聽We also have intercultural celebrations in observance of events such as D铆a de los Muertos, Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, la Virgen de Guadalupe, and Lunar New Year, as well as intercultural liturgies for heritage months. In addition, Campus Ministry facilitates and participates in Mosaic events, which are multicultural and multifaith gatherings of students. Mosaic gatherings include monthly dinners, wellness events, campus-wide socials, and sacred space tours.
Retreats: Santa Clara students are offered a number of retreat experiences over the course of the academic year. 聽Some of these align with other programming, such as LEAD or Hurtado scholars; others are open to all campus community members, such as the fall Faith Formation retreat.
Spirituality and reflection groups: Campus Ministry-organized Ignatian Life Communities are opportunities for students to explore spiritual practice and identity in small groups of their peers. 聽Other opportunities include weekly Breaking Open the Word (reflection on the lectionary readings). 聽Individuals and groups seeking support to form reflection groups are encouraged to come to Campus Ministry for assistance.
Residential Life Ministry: Campus Ministry is an integral part of the university鈥檚 Residential Life Community program, through collaboration and partnership with the Office of Residential Life and Faculty Directors. In the residence halls, graduate student Spirituality Facilitators provide spiritual accompaniment, offer student community wellness, and support the needs of residents as individuals and in community. The Spirituality Facilitators host monthly Spiritual Wellness events,practice a ministry of presence, and support the Residential Life staff in programming. 聽Full-time staff members in Campus Ministry partner closely with Student Life to support student development on a regular basis and for crisis care.
LGBTQ+ Ministry: 聽Our office celebrates, respects, supports, and cares for SCU鈥檚 LGBTQ+ community. Through joining advocacy efforts for LGBTQ+ policies and programs, hosting community dinners, and partnering with the Rainbow Resource Center, we strive to provide our queer students a place of belonging and compassion. 聽Additionally, we lead an annual delegation of students to attend IgnatianQ, a conference for LGBTQ+ students from Jesuit universities to 鈥渃reate community, develop spirituality, and build humanity.鈥� This conference has inspired the Ignatian Life Community 聽Spiritual Queeries, a small group for queer students who are curious about the mysteries of the universe.
Catholic Faith formation: Campus Ministry offers several opportunities for students to learn, reflect, and grow in regard to their faith through Scripture reflection, forums, seasonal devotions, and presentations. We also offer a year-long course of preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation in the Catholic Church (OCIA) in coordination with the Diocese of San Jose.
Social justice awareness and action: Campus Ministry provides students with a variety of opportunities to live out a faith that does justice. Some key focus areas include participation in the annual Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice and service opportunities with local community organizations including, for example, Santa Maria Urban Ministry, Sunday Friends, Sacred Heart Community Center, and the Center for Farmworker Families.
Faith-based clubs: In partnership with the Center for Student Involvement, Campus Ministry aids in the mentoring and support of all faith-based registered student organizations, including, for example, the Muslim Student Association, Students for Life, the Jewish Student Union, College Catholics, 聽and the Sikh Student Association.
Sacred spaces: Throughout campus, there are spaces for prayer, meditation, and reflection, such as the Mission Church, the Multifaith Sanctuary in St. Joseph鈥檚 Hall, and the Meditation Room in Benson. 聽All are welcome to find a place of rest in these sacred spaces.
Intern Formation: We cannot do our work without our student interns! They are ambassadors of Campus Ministry across the university: in their classes, their residence halls, and other co-curricular activities. Our interns work closely with the staff to plan and lead our programs, from liturgy and music to Catholic faith formation, to LGBTQ+ ministry, our interfaith Mosaic initiatives, as well as our justice and hospitality events. They聽make Campus Ministry accessible and relevant to the broader SCU community. To be strengthened for this work, our interns receive ongoing formation throughout the year from our staff, with retreats, reflection gatherings, and one-on-one mentorship.

We invite students to get involved with these ministries to explore their own faith, spirituality, and values. 聽Additionally, students can develop their own leadership skills by serving and leading in all program areas, as volunteers, or as an intern.

Is Campus Ministry for Everyone?

Yes! College is 聽a particularly rich time for learning about ourselves and our world and for practicing what it means to live our commitments of faith and justice in the world. Campus Ministry welcomes all SCU community members to deepen their faith identities and spiritual practices, regardless of their tradition or personal stance.

鈥淭he real measure of a Jesuit education is who our students become. 聽Tomorrow鈥檚鈥榳hole person鈥� cannot be whole without a well-educated solidarity鈥� . the whole person in solidarity for the real world.鈥� 聽- Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior of the Society of Jesuits, speaking at 杏吧视频, October 2000. 聽

Our only focus is to support SCU community members to explore the connection between their commitments and their actions - 聽to practice living faith and values more authentically 鈥榯o build a more humane, just, and sustainable world.鈥�