"CELEBRATE THE SPIRT" 2008

September 11, 2008 – Celebrate the Spirit is an event which brings together the entire John Carroll Community as we ask God’s spirit to guide us in the upcoming academic year.   The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), since its founding in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola, has taken its cue from Solomon to begin every work with a petition to God for wise discernment.  Once the Jesuits gave themselves to the ministry of education, this petition was extended to the students they taught and to the area of education in which they wanted to serve. At John Carroll we gather as students and faculty, staff and administrators, in a tradition that began locally at Ignatius College in 1886 on Cleveland’s West Side. 

This year over 750 people attended the Mass which was held at Gesu Church.  Following a call to prayer by Resident pastor, Dr. Valentino Lassiter, there was  a procession of student groups and representatives from the University. We were led by Archbishop Lawrence A. Burke, S.J., from the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica.  Archbishop Burke spoke eloquently about the need for social action rooted in faith, stating definitivel that "the poor do not want charity, they want justice."

Fr. Robert Niehoff, President of JCU and members of the John Carroll and Jesuit Community participated in the mass as well as students, faculty, staff and administrators of all faith traditions.  In addition to our spirit centered prayers, we prayed in remembrance for those who died on September 11, 2001, for peace in our world, and for those in our JCU community who have died.  Fr. Niehoff also offered a blessing to those who began their employment with John Carroll after last year’s Spirit day.

Following Mass, JCU Dining provided a delicious lunch for over 2,500 students, faculty, staff and administrators in the newly designed Schott Dining Hall. 

The Celebrate the Spirit Committee is grateful to all who contributed to this event and asks that we continue our prayers for a spirit-filled academic year.

Click HERE to view a gallery of photos from the day!