University Ministry: Entering the Season Together
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Light, Hope, and Rest: Entering the Season Together
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With the semester drawing to a close, many of us are balancing the weight of projects, exams, and the busy rhythm of finals. It’s a hectic time, one that can easily stretch us thin. In the midst of deadlines and study sessions, may we also remember to care for our well-being, our community, and one another. Finals may demand our focus, but they do not require us to carry the stress alone. This season invites us to lean into support through academic, emotional, and spiritual channels, and to trust that we are capable of finishing strong.
Soon, many in our community will be heading home or traveling to be with loved ones. Whether you’re returning to familiar family traditions, gathering with friends, or simply taking time for rest, this transition marks an opportunity to reconnect with the people who shape us. After months of classes, commitments, and campus life, stepping into a space of warmth and belonging can be deeply restorative. We hope that each of you finds comfort, joy, and peace in the places and relationships that feel like home.
As we move into the Christmas season, we celebrate a time of hope, light, and renewal, a central part of our Catholic Jesuit identity. Yet, this season also overlaps with many other sacred celebrations across diverse traditions: Hanukkah’s candles, Bodhi Day’s reflection, Kwanzaa’s principles, and other winter observances rooted in community and spiritual meaning. At USF, we honor all of these traditions, recognizing that our strength lies in our diversity and in the ways we learn from one another’s beliefs, cultures, and sacred stories.
In this multi-faith spirit, University Ministry invites each of you to enter the season with openness, whether that looks like attending a service, lighting a candle, practicing gratitude, or simply creating moments of stillness amid the noise. As the year winds down, may this time bring you clarity, rest, and renewed purpose. We are grateful for the many ways you contribute to the life of our community, and we wish you warmth, peace, and blessing in the coming weeks.
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"Advent is not about waiting for God to act. Advent is about waking up to where God is already at work and joining God in that work. Staying awake means being prepared to say yes. Yes to justice. Yes to accompaniment. Yes to human dignity. Yes to policies rooted in compassion. Yes to the long and challenging work of peace. And it means standing where Christ stands."
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This Advent and Christmas, in solidarity and with a deep and urgent concern for our immigrant siblings, Catholic Women Preach is featuring reflections from Latina women, migrant women, and women who accompany migrants in ministry and advocacy. Reminding us of the Holy Family’s own search for safety, shelter, and dignity, their preaching offers a prophetic witness to the Gospel and a profound expression of the Church’s mission to stand with and for those on the margins.
Our very own University Ministry director, Angélica N. Quińónez EdD, is among the women offering these powerful reflections. In her message, she offers a thoughtful invitation to enter this season with renewed awareness and an open heart.
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UM Events and Sponsored Events |
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Walk With University Ministry |
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.
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Sundays | 7 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church
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Join us every Sunday for our weekly student liturgies! Visit our website or email Laura Díaz-Flaviani to learn more. 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.
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Breaking Bread and the Binary |
Thursdays | 11:30 a.m.
University Ministry, Romero Room
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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.
| | Catholic Student Fellowship |
Wednesday Evenings
University Ministry, Romero Room
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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!
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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
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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.
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| Global Education Immersions |
We’re excited to support our colleagues at the Center for Global Education for their upcoming Global Education Immersions. These faculty-led programs offer students the opportunity to engage in meaningful cross-cultural learning experiences in locations such as Ireland, Italy, and Alaska — all while earning academic credit for their time abroad. Sign up for upcoming information sessions below!
Upcoming Immersions:
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Civil Rights, Justice and Sport in Ireland
Intersession 2026
Humane Architecture in the Arizona Borderlands
Intersession 2026
Gastronomy and Culture in Italy
Summer 2026
Culture and Environment in Sitka
Summer 2026
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Contact Program Director Shawn Dillard for more information.
Please note: These are Global Education Immersions — not Arrupe Immersions.
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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 University Ministry.
Content deadline for upcoming newsletter: Thursday, Dec. 11.
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