University Ministry: Holy Week
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Within these coming weeks, the three Abrahamic faiths will engage in observing holy days respective to each tradition.
Christians around the world will observe Holy Week from April 2–8. This week marks the final days of Jesus' life, commemorates his death on Good Friday (April 7), and reminds us of hope and the promise of the resurrection on Easter Sunday (April 9). Orthodox Christians will observe Holy Week a week later and will celebrate Easter Sunday on April 16. We wish those who celebrate a blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter.
Passover begins on the evening of April 5 and ends on the evening of April 13. This eight-day Jewish holiday commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt and recalls when death “passed over” and spared the lives of the firstborn Israelites. To all our Jewish students and colleagues, we wish you a happy Pesach in the days to come.
The holy season of Ramadan continues for Muslims around the world. This time of increased prayer and fasting recalls the revelation of the Qu’ran. To all of our Muslim students and colleagues, we wish you a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!
We encourage members of our community to join us in supporting all those around us who are observing the Ramadan fast and who may need to miss class for Passover or Eid. For ways that you can support friends, colleagues, and students during Ramadan or Passover check out our Instagram account. In this holy season, we continue to hold our global community in prayer. We continue to hold in our hearts and in prayer the people of Turkey and Syria who continue to face the aftermath of the recent earthquakes. For more resources on how to help, please visit the Earthquake Relief web page. We continue to pray for communities at war abroad and for an end to violence at home. And, we pray too, for those affected by recent storms in California and elsewhere. May this holy season inspire us to renew our commitment to being a true change in a world so desperately in need of our love, compassion, and commitment to justice.
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Living Stations of the Cross
Tuesday, April 4 | 12 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church
Those who are interested can gather at the steps of Saint Ignatius Church (Fulton Street entrance) for a guided procession across campus with meditative stops along the way. Please email Fr. Donal Godfrey or Angélica Quiñónez with any questions.
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Women Preach: Meditations on the Passion
Friday, April 7 | 12–1 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church
Join the St. Ignatius parish community for an afternoon of meditations on the Passion of Christ, featuring Angélica Quiñónez, UM director, and Rev. Ronné Sims, UM assistant director.
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Virtual Way of the Cross
University Ministry has created a virtual Way of the Cross that is accessible 24/7 for your personal prayer.
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| University Ministry Events
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Tuesday, April 11 | 6:30–8 p.m. | McLaren Complex
We are thrilled to present our thirteenth annual on-campus Social Justice Passover Seder. This year's seder will focus on the urgent need for racial justice. With one foot in bondage and another foot in freedom, this interfaith seder will retell the Exodus narrative alongside a recommitment to working together for a world of peace and plenty, joy and renewal, and health and freedom — a world that all of our faiths and our traditions teach us is possible. If you are interested in being involved in planning the seder, please contact Rabbi-in-Residence Camille Angel.
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| | Book Reading and Conversation with Bill Glenn
Thursday, April 13 | 5:30–7 p.m. | UC 4th Floor Lounge
Join us for a book reading and conversation with Bill Glenn on his new book I Came Here Seeking a Person: One Gay Man’s Spiritual Journey. The spiritually-focused memoir follows his childhood in an Irish Catholic family in the Midwest in the ’50s and ’60s, through his nearly decade as a Jesuit, to his subsequent life as a sober, out gay man, detailing his complex journey of faith in practice over the span of his 74 years.
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| | Community Reading of Laudato si'
Tuesday, April 18 | 12–4:30 p.m. | University Ministry (Toler Hall 122)
In partnership with USF's One Earth Initiative, we invite you to celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 18 as we read the words of Pope Francis’ Laudato si' in front of the Laudato si' inspired mural on Toler Hall.
We hope our community reading of Laudato si' will reflect the religious, spiritual, and cultural diversity of USF through many voices and languages. The Pope wrote this urgent appeal to care for our common home in 2015.
The university is part of a collective effort to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the oppressed as we promote transformative ecological education and spirituality, community empowerment, and a sustainable lifestyle supported by a more just economy.
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| | American Pilgrimage Project
Monday, April 24 – Wednesday, April 26 | Hilltop Campus
The American Pilgrimage Project is exploring the role religious beliefs have played in crucial moments of people’s lives. You’re invited to help us tell the story.
This is an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with someone you know relatively well about the ways in which your religious beliefs have shaped your life during critical moments. In this space, the StoryCorp folks will capture a conversation between you and a loved one, mentor, friend, etc. as you reflect together about matters of life and faith. These recorded conversations will be archived in the Library of Congress forever so it's a great way to preserve a piece of your personal or shared history for future generations.
All faith or non-faith traditions or understandings are welcome. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the community are welcome and encouraged to participate. Conversations will be held on the USF Hilltop Campus and take around 40 mins. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please contact Pooja Reddy to book your slot. If you have any questions, you may also contact Rev. Ronné Sims.
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Wednesday, April 26 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. PDT | Mclaren 251 and Zoom
Celia Deane-Drummond (Oxford), Paul Fiddes FBA (Oxford), Norman Wirzba (Duke), and Cyrus Olsen (USF) will share their latest research on ecology and spirituality. The recent publication of Loving the Planet: Interfaith Essays on Ecology, Love, and Theology will form much of the conversation.
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Mondays | 12:30–1:15 p.m. PDT | Zoom
Join us for a guided meditation to start the week right. Guided meditation can help reduce stress, increase patience, improve focus, and more! Open to all students, faculty, and staff!
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A graduate study at USF is looking for students who meet one or more of these qualifications to participate in a study on "non-traditional" student persistence at Jesuit Catholic universities. Qualifications:
- Single parents
- Students 25 years or older
- Students who have a GED
- Students who work full-time while enrolled
- Students who are financially independent
- Veterans
- Students who delayed college enrollment after high school
- Students who go to school part-time
If you meet any of these qualifications or have questions, please contact Caitlyn Rei or Ria DasGupta EdD. Starbucks gift cards will be given out to the qualifying students who complete the survey.
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| | Recruiting Undergraduate Student Participants for SOE Capstone Research
Participants are needed for a graduate student study of nonreligious students at USF.
You may qualify if you:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Are a current undergraduate student at USF
- Identify as a person who is nonreligious
- Are willing to share your experience during your time at USF via Zoom interview(s)
All majors and class years are welcome! All participants will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card.
Transfer students are encouraged too! This is a safe space for undocumented, international, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, genderqueer, nonbinary, womxn, and, femme-identifying folx.
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Sunday Night Student Liturgies
Sundays | 7 p.m. | Saint Ignatius Church
Join our weekly liturgy and engage in prayer and deep reflection with other students! All are welcome.
Would you like to be a lector, acolyte, Eucharistic minister, altar server, greeter, or choir member for any of these liturgies? If interested, please contact Ana Karen Barragán.
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| | Breaking Bread and the Binary
Thursdays | 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | University Ministry – Romero Room (Toler 122)
Join us every Thursday as we explore the intersectionality between our unique spiritual traditions and our LGBTQIA+ identities.
For more information or if you’d like to meet with Rabbi Angel, please contact csangel@usfca.edu.
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Wednesday, April 19 | 12–1 p.m. | Loyola House Jesuit Community
Join colleagues from around the university for lunch. Our conversation, facilitated by University Chaplain Donal Godfrey, S.J., will be based on a short article on our USF Jesuit mission. Luncheons will also be held in March and April. Space is limited. Registration is required.
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| | Intervarsity's Speaker Series
Wednesday, April 5 | 7–8:30 p.m. | Maraschi Room (FR 125)
Join us for our final speaker series event. We'll enjoy a time of musical worship together and hear from our faculty adviser, Professor Bruce Wydick! For more information, email Jacqueline Tisthammer.
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Monday, May 1 | 11:59 p.m.
Catholic Mobilizing Network is currently holding a national poetry contest for young Catholics between the ages of 18-30 to submit a poem on the death penalty and its injustices. Those who submit a poem for consideration before May 1 have the opportunity to win up to $1,000.
Students may post their submissions here, and visit the FAQ web page for more information. Any additional inquiries can be directed to CMN’s Director of Community Engagement Emma Tacke.
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Wednesdays | 4:45–6:15 p.m. | Pedro Arrupe Room
Ever notice how your mind can race at 1,000 mph? We are often so busy reviewing the past or rehearsing the future. Oftentimes, we struggle to keep our appointment with life — here and now.
This free course will introduce you to mindfulness and its energy to awaken your life. Whether a newbie or adept, faculty, student, or neighbor — all are welcome. This is a weekly, recurrent event. For more information, email Professor Gary Gach.
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| | Community Group Bible Discussions
Mondays | 7–8:30 p.m. | UC 415
These weekly spaces are a great place to build friendships and discuss questions about faith. Each week we look at a short section of the Bible together and base our discussion on questions from the group. All faith backgrounds are welcome!
These groups meet every week at three different times:
- Mondays from 7–8:30 p.m. in KA 165
- Tuesdays from 7–8:30 p.m. in UC 415
- Thursdays from 11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in UC 415
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