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University Ministry: Changing Skies Feb. 2, 2024
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 | Ecuador Immersion students and staff at Yasuní National Park (left);
Los Angeles Immersion students and staff at Homeboy Industries (right)
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| Welcome back, and happy 2024! Classes and campus life are well underway, and we are thankful to continue serving this community.
Intersession 2024 was a busy time for UM! We hosted two immersions. Our Ecuadorian immersion included a visit to the Amazon, where students learned about the impact of climate change on the Amazon and its indigenous communities. Our first-ever International Student Immersion, introduced students to the food and culture of Los Angeles. The visit included a visit to Homeboy Industries, an organization founded by Jesuit priest Greg Boyle!
In the next few weeks, we will begin the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) and continue through the Holy Week before Easter Sunday (March 31). Lent is a time of year when Christians throughout the world seek spiritual growth and renewal through a commitment to prayer, almsgiving, reflection, and service. Lent offers an opportunity to dedicate new time to nourishing our spirituality, seeking strength and wisdom in our personal lives, and re-committing to becoming bringers of justice and peace into this world.
We look forward to walking this Lenten journey with you this holy season. University Ministry offers the programs listed below to all members of the USF community to support your spiritual journeys. Please consider taking part in one or more of these activities—open to those of all faiths and none. If you are interested in learning more about Lent, please feel free to stop by our office.
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| University Ministry Events
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| | Bahai Center Visit
Saturday, Feb. 3 | 10 a.m. | Bahai Center of Worship in San Francisco
Join the University Ministry's Interfaith & Social Justice Team for an enriching excursion to the Bahá'í Center in San Francisco. This visit is an integral part of our Interfaith Visit Series, aimed at exploring diverse religious beliefs and promoting understanding across faiths. Departing from USF, we'll travel to the Bahá'í Center at 355 Bryant St UNIT 110 to delve into the Bahá'í faith. The visit will be rounded off with lunch, after which we'll return to USF. Don't miss this opportunity to broaden your spiritual horizons!
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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.
On Monday, Feb. 19, there will be no daily Mass as it is the President's Day holiday. 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. PST | 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! Our first session will be on Feb 5. Register in advance through Zoom.
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Distribution of Ashes
Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 12–1 p.m. | Outside University Ministry, Toler 122
University Chaplain, Donal Godfrey, S.J., will distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday outside University Ministry, Toler Hall at noon. All are welcome.
Drop-ins for ashes are also welcome throughout the day.
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Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. | St. Ignatius Church
Please join us for our USF community Ash Wednesday Liturgy at 7 p.m. at St. Ignatius Church.
Other Ash Wednesday Mass times at St. Ignatius Parish:
7 a.m. Liturgy of the Word + Imposition of Ashes
9 a.m. Mass + Imposition of Ashes
12:05 p.m. Mass + Imposition of Ashes
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Lenten Footprints
Take a walk as we reflect and learn about the Lent journey through reflections, poem readings, music, scripture, and more!
Lenten Footprints will be held on Feb. 16, March 1, and March 15.
Open to all faculty, staff, and student. Registration is required.
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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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| | 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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Napo River at Yasuní National Park
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Ecuador Participant Testimony
In reflecting on my overall experience during the immersion, I must admit I approached it with uncertainty about what to expect. The anticipation of a life-changing journey lingered, and indeed, the immersion surpassed my initial expectations.
A significant highlight was the privilege of meeting the Indigenous Waorani Community, where simplicity defined their way of life. Exploring their community, witnessing their school, engaging with the children and families, and gaining insights into their livelihoods left a profound impact. Surprisingly, the joy we brought to them through simple acts—playing soccer, supporting their businesses, and spending time with the children—underscored the transformative nature of our visit.
Additionally, the immersion provided an amazing opportunity to be in Yasuni National Park. Observing the diverse array of birds, insects, animals, and plants underscored the importance of preserving such biodiversity. The protection of the rainforest left a lasting impression, emphasizing the collective responsibility to safeguard our environment.
Equally fascinating was witnessing how the community navigates these rainforests. Understanding their methods of traversing this intricate ecosystem added another layer of appreciation for their sustainable practices and the delicate balance they maintain. The community there lived in harmony with nature, and it made me appreciate the importance of taking care of our environment even more. Furthermore, the immersion experience extended beyond the Indigenous Waorani Community and Yasuni National Park.
Meeting and connecting with individuals from the Pontifical University of Ecuador added another layer of richness to our journey. The visits to the university, the equator, Iglesia de La Compania de Jesus, Mitad Del Mundo, and even our dance class became occasions to forge lifelong bonds. These shared moments with new friends enhanced the overall experience, creating memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime.
This journey was a lesson in pushing us to strive for more meaningful connections and to explore beyond what is immediately in front of us. The transformative experience not only deepened my connection with the Indigenous community and nature but unexpectedly brought me closer to fellow students from my university. We faced challenges together, explored and learned new things, and built bonds that go way beyond the trip. In the ten days we all spent together, the trip became a mix of personal growth, learning about different cultures and making connections that will stick with me forever.
Fiza Shaikh 24’ Biology
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| | The Robert Holgate Pride Fellowship Award in Queering Religion
The Robert Holgate Pride Award is a new fellowship to highlight student activism in queering religion at the University of San Francisco. This award, named in honor of LGBTQIA+ activist and philanthropist Robert Holgate, will enable the Queering Religion ministry to create more inclusive programs and build spiritual communities.
The Robert Holgate Pride Award is hosted by the Swig program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice; applications will be accepted in January 2024. The successful awardee will be a junior who has significantly contributed to the spiritual/religious life of the USF LGBTQIA+ community and is involved in the work on campus of “queering religion.”
Feb. 8: Applications, including personal statements and letters of recommendation, are due.
For more information, or any questions regarding the fellowship, please contact Rabbi Camille Angel, rabbi-in-residence.
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Come and See Retreat
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Loyola House Jesuit Community
This free retreat for single men 18-40 is an
opportunity to meet and pray with Jesuits in
person, learn more about the work Jesuits do,
and to continue your journey into the New Year
in a deeper way, considering how God may be
leading you in your own life. Lunch provided.
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Antisemitism and the Catholic Church: An Unfinished Moral Reckoning
Tuesday, Feb. 27 | 6:30–8 p.m. | McLaren Conference Center
In the first installment of JSSJ's three-part series on Antisemitism, bestselling and award-winning author, historian, and former Catholic priest, James Carroll will address the centuries-old legacy of antisemitism within Christianity generally and the Catholic church in particular.
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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 2000-year tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. All students, including non-Orthodox, are very welcome! Pizza will be provided for lunch. We're reading Genesis together (Creation! Humans! Fall!). Please drop by or email our spiritual adviser, Fr. Kirill Sokolov, or our student leader, Christianna Yano, for more information. We look forward to meeting you!
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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:Thursday, Feb. 8 (for Feb. 16 Newsletter)
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