University Ministry: In The Passing Season

Oct. 10, 2025

Season of Change

As autumn unfolds across San Francisco, the city takes on a new rhythm. The fog lingers longer over the Golden Gate, the air grows crisp along Fulton Street, and the trees in Golden Gate Park begin their slow transformation, trading deep greens for amber and rust. The days shorten, the evenings cool, and with them comes a natural invitation to slow down and reflect. From the quiet courtyards of Lone Mountain to the bustling corners of the Mission, the changing season reminds us that transformation is an inevitable part of life. We are called not to resist it, but to find meaning within it, to see the sacred in change itself.

At the University of San Francisco, fall is more than a shift in weather; it is a spiritual season. Midterms test not only our knowledge but also our resilience; friendships deepen as we lean on one another for warmth, and our campus, perched above the heart of the city, becomes a place of reflection amid motion. It’s in this rhythm of transition that our Jesuit values come alive: cura personalis, care for the whole person; magis, the call to strive for more; and the invitation to find God, or goodness, in all things. Yet, as we honor our Catholic Jesuit roots, we also recognize that the divine speaks through many languages, traditions, and communities that shape the spiritual landscape of our city.

San Francisco, after all, is a mosaic of belief. In the same week that fog curls around the spires of St. Ignatius Church, candles are lit in synagogues across the Richmond District for Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, a time for self-examination, forgiveness, and renewal. Soon after, Sukkot arrives, and families gather under open-roofed sukkahs, celebrating the harvest and the hospitality that binds us all. Across the Bay and in neighborhoods like the Sunset and the Excelsior, Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities prepare for Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Homes glow with candles and lanterns, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, a message that feels especially fitting as our own days grow shorter. Later this month, members of the Bahá’í community will celebrate the Twin Holy Birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, moments of joy and reflection on unity and peace.

Meanwhile, our Protestant and Catholic communities prepare to honor Reformation Day and All Saints’ Day, reminders that faith itself evolves just as the city around us does. In neighborhoods like Japantown, Buddhist temples offer serene spaces for meditation amid the city’s pulse. In the Tenderloin, interfaith organizations gather volunteers to serve meals to the unhoused, embodying compassion as a shared calling across spiritual lines. These overlapping observances and acts of service show us that while our expressions of faith may differ, our hopes are intertwined: for light, for forgiveness, for belonging, and for peace.

As autumn deepens, may we take time to notice the sacred woven into our daily lives, the whisper of wind through eucalyptus trees, the stillness in the Presidio at dusk, the laughter that echoes through campus as students gather after class. Change can be unsettling, but it is also what binds us together in our shared humanity. Whether we find solace in prayer, reflection, art, or action, this season offers each of us a chance to renew our sense of purpose. Let us celebrate not only our differences, but also the ways those differences illuminate what we share: compassion, curiosity, and the courage to care for one another.

This fall, may we remember that community is a sacred act, one that requires openness, acceptance, and love. As the light fades earlier over Lone Mountain, may we carry our own light into the world, into our studies, our friendships, and our city. Together, as a diverse and interfaith community, we embody what makes USF and San Francisco itself so special: a place where change is not something to fear, but something to embrace as a pathway toward deeper understanding, unity, and hope.

Energize your spirit! Join UM and BASE as we visit historically Black houses of worship throughout October and November. Must register for transportation. All USF community members are welcome!

For questions, email Rev. Ronné Wingate Sims or Professor Sonja Poole.

University Ministry invites you to throw on your HOKAs and fill up your Stanley to join us for our first-ever walking group. A new way to connect, get outside, and embrace movement together! Open to everyone, this group is all about building community while staying active.

Whether you’re looking for a break from studying, some fresh air, or just good company, we’d love for you to walk with us. See you on the path! For questions, email Caton Daval-Santos.

Application Deadline: Friday, Oct. 10 

We are excited to announce that applications are now open for the Green Faiths Initiative (GFI) 2025–26 cohort!

The GFI is a student-driven, interfaith, and environmental justice program at University Ministry. Through leadership development, environmental projects, and interfaith dialogue, we aim to build student leaders for environmental advocacy.

Saturday, Oct. 11 | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Presidio Tunnel Tops

Staying in SF for fall break? Join us for an international student picnic at Presidio Tunnel Tops! The vibes are set — come eat, connect, and make campus feel like home.

This event is sponsored by University Ministry and International Student and Scholar Services.

Sunday, Oct. 12 | 10 a.m.
Saint Ignatius Church

Join Patrick Kennedy, director of advancement here at St. Ignatius Parish, after our 10 a.m. Sunday Mass for a tour of our historic church building. If you're a new parishioner, this is a great way to get to know our worship space and our community.

All newly-registered parishioners are invited to get a feel for our worship, community, and ministries during a 30-minute tour of the church. We also welcome anyone curious about joining our parish and those who would like a refresher on our building!

Monday, Oct. 20 | 4–6 p.m.
Getty Lounge, Lo Schiavo Center

Featuring work from alumni Catherine Wolff (Beyond: How Humankind Thinks About Heaven) and Curtis White (Transcendent: Art and Dharma in a Time of Collapse), this event is sponsored by the MFA in Creative Writing program, University Ministry, and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

This event is free and open to everyone.

Monday, Oct. 27 | 3–4 p.m. PDT McLaren 251 or Zoom

Join us for a guided meditation in person or online. Guided meditation can help reduce stress, increase patience, improve focus, and more! Open to all students, faculty, and staff! Registration is required.

Session 2: Concentration and Focus Meditation on Oct. 27, from 3–4 p.m. PDT, in McLaren 251 or online via Zoom

Session 3: Loving-Kindness and Compassion Meditation on Nov. 17, from 4–5 p.m. PDT, in McLaren 251 or online via Zoom

For more information, email Resident Minister Poonam Kakodkar.

Thursday, Oct. 30 | 3–6 p.m. PDT Malloy Hall 230 or Zoom

This film series, presented by University Resident Minister Dede Adote in collaboration with Friends of Congo, fosters community dialogue on global citizenship and issues facing Congo.

The featured film, Mikuba by Petna Ndaliko Katondolo, explores Kolwezi’s cobalt mines, central to the green energy future, while spotlighting the struggles and resilience of local artisanal miners.

Proceeds support Synergie des Femmes, a collective of 35 women-led groups in eastern Congo that, for over 20 years, has provided medical, psychological, legal, and professional aid to survivors of gender-based violence, helping 18,000 women. The collective is led by renowned activist and author Justine Masika.

Friday, Oct. 31 – Sunday, Nov. 2
Jesuit Center Los Altos 

Experience the magic of Kairos on this weekend retreat! Foster community, reflect on your life and relationships, and engage with your spirituality through this life-changing experience!

This event is free and open to all USF students.

Registration Deadline: Oct. 17

Email Poonam Kakodkar for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 13 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Fromm Hall, Maraschi Room

Please join us for a timely conversation with Sister Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN. Sister Patricia has worked for decades in nonviolence and anti-racism work. After years as a community organizer, Sister Patricia entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1977. She currently serves as the moderator of the leadership team for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur U.S. East-West Province.

Co-sponsored by the Joan and Ralph Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought and the Ignatian Tradition, Casa Madríz, University Ministry, and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

Friday, Nov. 14 – Sunday, Nov. 16
Vina, California

This silent weekend retreat is open to faculty, staff, and students from all traditions. The retreat is with the brothers of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, a community of Trappist monks living a life of contemplative prayer and work. This abbey belongs to the worldwide Catholic order of monks called the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

Although this retreat is substantially subsidized by University Ministry, full scholarships are available on a need basis.

Students $50 | Faculty/Staff $100

Sundays | 7 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church

Join us every Sunday for our weekly student liturgies! Visit our website or email Laura Díaz-Flaviani to learn more about our student liturgies. Sign up to be in the choir, or participate as an altar server, lector, or Eucharistic minister.

Can't join us in person? Join by watching our livestream on the St. Ignatius Parish site.

Thursdays | 11:30 a.m.
University Ministry, Romero Room

Qmmunity will begin hosting Breaking Bread and the Binary this Thursday and every Thursday throughout the fall semester. This is a place to celebrate your true fabulous self and gain nourishment for the body and soul. Questions? Email Rabbi Camille Angel.

Join our USF Catholic Student Fellowship. We meet every Wednesday for community building, faith discussions, and a 15-minute rosary! For more information, please contact Randon Ronquillo.

We would love to see you there! 

Our sukkah this year has been built on Welch Field, located between St. Ignatius Church and Kalmanovitz Hall. A sukkah is a temporary outdoor hut built for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, a week-long festival in October that commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the desert and celebrates the fall harvest. It is traditional to gather, eat, and spend time in the sukkah as a reminder of gratitude, community, and reliance on one another.

Everyone is invited to spend time in our sukkah throughout the week, whether to share a meal with friends, relax between classes, or simply pause and recharge. We will also be hosting special events and programs in the sukkah during the holiday.

Tuesdays (Men's Group) | 11 a.m. University Center 415

Tuesdays | 7 p.m.
University Center 415

Wednesdays | 7 p.m.
University Center 503

Thursdays | 11:30 a.m.
University Center 503

These groups are a space to ask real questions, learn helpful approaches to reading the Bible, and build deeper friendships on campus. This semester, we're looking at Jesus' life and teaching in the book of John. Contact Troy Tisthammer for more information, or just stop in.

Friday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Oct. 26
Alliance Redwoods Conference Center

Join us for an immersive weekend in the Sonoma County redwoods to connect with one another and with God. Students from campuses throughout the Bay Area will experience musical worship, speakers, interactive learning opportunities, basketball, volleyball, and more. God wants to speak to you and partner with you in being a blessing on campus. Join us for the weekend to be spiritually refreshed and to grow your campus impact!

Registration closes TODAY, Oct. 10.

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 University Ministry.

Content deadline for upcoming newsletter: Thursday, Oct. 16