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University Ministry: Ramadan MubarakMarch 8, 2024
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Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Sunday, March 10. Ramadan marks the start of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and Muslims around the world fast every day of this holy month by abstaining from eating and drinking (including water) from dawn until sunset. While fasting is a part of many faith traditions, each one is unique in its practice and purpose. Not only is Ramadan a commemoration of the Qur’an being revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), but fasting is also observed to grow spiritually and awaken to greater compassion for those in need. Ramadan is a time marked by worship, spiritual reflection, sharing, and community. It is expected to end on Tuesday, April 9, with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast, beginning on Tuesday, May 3. We encourage members of our community to join us in supporting all those in our community who will be observing the fast. For ways that you can support friends, colleagues, and students during Ramadan, check out our Instagram account during the month of March and early April.
To learn more about Ramadan, view this presentation from Islamic Networks Group.
Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim community!
Happy spring break, USF! We take this opportunity to wish our upcoming immersion experiences a fruitful experience.
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| University Ministry Events
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| | Faithful Fools Street Retreat
Wednesday, March 20 | 9 a.m.−4 p.m. | University Ministry (Toler 122)
Set aside your busy schedules and spend a day on the streets of the Tenderloin in San Francisco! This retreat is an opportunity to encounter ourselves and find moments to connect us with ourselves, and "what" and "who" are all around us.
For more information about the organization Faithful Fools or about this retreat, contact Rev. Ronné Sims.
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Forest Bathing Retreat
Saturday, March 30 | 9–11:30 a.m. | Fuschia Dell
Join us for a forest bath or "shinrin-yoku." Deepen your relationship with and tune into the healing power of nature. Revitalize your health and well-being.
All USF students, staff, and faculty are welcome!
Register by March 28.
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| | Daily Mass with the Jesuits
Monday–Thursday | 12 p.m. | Jesuit Chapel at Loyola House
Join us Monday through Thursday at the Loyola House Jesuit Chapel for Mass at noon.
From March 11–14, there will be no daily Mass due to spring break. The last Mass for the spring semester will be held on Thursday, May 16.
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Monday Meditations
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! Register in advance through Zoom.
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Lenten Prayer at Grace Cathedral
Thursday, March 21 | 4−6:30 p.m. | Grace Cathedral
Join University Chaplain Donal Godfrey, S.J., on a Lenten visit to pray at Grace Cathedral. We will visit the AIDS Memorial Chapel and the labyrinth, and end by joining other worshipers at a Lenten Choral Evensong. Please register directly with Fr. Donal Godfrey via email.
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Outdoor Stations of the Cross
Tuesday, March 26 | 12 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church
One of the oldest Christian devotions, the Way of the Cross follows Jesus on his journey to Good Friday. These stations can provide a model of how to live life when our struggles are unavoidable, and life seems most oppressive, most unfair, most impossible to bear.
All are welcome to join this guided outdoor Stations of the Cross for Holy Week. We will process around campus with guided meditative stops along the way. Please meet at the front steps of St. Ignatius Church on Fulton Street.
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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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We invite you to fast with us to experience a full day of Ramadan or attend specific events filled with creativity, advocacy, food, and learning. RSVP for all the events below.
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Discussing Islam
Thursday, March 21 | 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. | UC 411/UC412
Join us on a journey to learn about Islam. Bring your curiosity, questions, and an open heart for discussion.
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Palestine Art Decor
Thursday, March 21 | 8 p.m. | University Ministry – Romero Room (Toler 122)
Join us as we celebrate a night of Ramadan by coming together to create art expressing solidarity with Palestine and taking a stand against the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
All materials will be provided, so simply show up for a night of creativity, delicious food, and snacks.
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Dawn Meal / SUHOOR
Friday, March 22 | 4 a.m. | University Ministry – Romero Room (Toler 122)
Rise and shine for a pre-dawn feast! Join us for a special suhoor, when we come together to fuel up before the fast begins.
Pickup from your dorm will be provided upon request.
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Iftar Potluck
Friday, March 22 | 7 p.m. | Fromm 120 (Xavier Auditorium)
Join us for a heartwarming Iftar Potluck! Your presence is the greatest gift, but if you'd like to contribute please indicate what you will be bringing on the Google Sheet by March 20 (linked in the registration form).
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| | Breaking Bread and the Binary
Thursdays | 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. | University Ministry – Romero Room (Toler 122)
Breaking Bread and the Binary is back! Join us on a self-discovery journey to explore the intersectionality between our different spiritual traditions and our LGBTQIA+ identities. We meet every Thursday during the academic year. If you have any questions, contact Qmmunity USF.
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| | Sunday Night Student Liturgies
Sundays | 7 p.m. | St. 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, altar server, Eucharistic minister, greeter, or choir member for any of these liturgies? If interested, please contact Ana Karen Barragán.
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| | GO TEAM Leader Applications
GO Team Orientation leaders play an essential role in the facilitation of Orientation by providing new students and their family members with an engaging and authentic introductory experience to campus life and all its resources. Applications are due Monday, March 18.
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| | Intervarsity Bay Area Spring Conference
Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24 | Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds
Join other college students from around the Bay Area for a dive into the Gospel of Mark! USF students can register using the discount code SF150 and pay just $49 for this weekend retreat. If the cost is an issue, or you have a friend at another campus who wants to come, please reach out to Jackie Tisthammer.
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| | White Supremacy, Antisemitism, and Anti-Black Racism: Origins and Intersectionality
Tuesday, March 26 | 6:30–8 p.m. | McLaren Complex
Renowned community organizer and civil rights and racial justice advocate Eric Ward will discuss the foundational connections between American anti-Blackness and antisemitism. Following his keynote, Ward will be in conversation with April Baskin, a dedicated organizer and movement leader within the Jewish community for 20 years, moderated by Professor Bradley Onishi (Religious Studies).
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| | Orthodox Christian Fellowship
Tuesdays | 12–12:35 p.m. | University Ministry – Romero Room (Toler 122)
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is a student-led group dedicated to exploring the Orthodox Christian faith, fostering spiritual growth, and exposing our campus to the faith, cultures, and customs that are authentically Orthodox. We are a small but dynamic group of students from many different backgrounds who share a common desire to learn more about the 2,000-year tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. All students, including non-Orthodox, are very welcome! On Tuesday, March 19, we will mark the beginning of Orthodox Great Lent with prayer at noon. Please drop by or email our spiritual adviser, Fr. Kirill Sokolov, or our student leader, Christianna Yano, for more information.
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| | Intervarsity Community Groups
These weekly gatherings are a space to engage the Bible in the community. Student leaders based the discussion on the questions you bring, so it's a great place to be whether you have experience with the Bible or not! This semester we are discussing portions of the Book of Exodus and how this ancient text relates to life today.
Groups meet weekly at the following times:
- Tuesdays from 7–8:15 p.m. in UC 415
- Wednesdays from 7:15–8:30 p.m. in UC 415
- Thursdays from 11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in UC 414
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University Ministry Newsletter Content Requests
Thank you for reading our bi-weekly newsletter. If you would like to submit content for future newsletters, please make sure to fill out the UM Newsletter Intake Form. If you have any questions about submissions and deadlines, please email Sarah Manzano.
Content deadline for upcoming newsletter:
Friday, March 8 (for March 22 Newsletter)
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