Campus Ministry

Grounded in the Catholic and Ignatian tradition, Campus Ministry serves persons of all faiths by:

Faith and justice are at the heart of the programs, liturgies, retreats, and service opportunities that Campus Ministry promotes. Students are encouraged to explore, deepen, and celebrate their faith. They are also called to action for the purpose of learning about and working for justice.

In collaboration with other university departments, Campus Ministry organizes service/immersion trips. Students join members of the faculty and administration in rural, urban, and international areas. Together members of the JCU community serve others, experience their cultures, and build lasting friendships. Recent trips have included El Salvador; Duran, Ecuador; Tijuana, Mexico; Brooklyn, New York; Big Ugly, West Virginia; Eagle Butte, South Dakota; Immokalee, Florida; and downtown Cleveland.

The retreat programs offer students the opportunity to reflect and to integrate their faith with their daily lives. Many of the retreat programs are rooted in Ignatian spirituality, including the First-Year Retreat, Manresa Retreat, Leadership Retreat, Wilderness Retreat, and Eight-Day Silent Retreat, which is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

While retreats offer a focused time for prayer and reflection off-campus, small faith sharing groups offer students an ongoing way to integrate faith and their college experience. Groups consist of six to ten people who meet weekly in the residence halls.

Campus Ministry also serves the community in celebrating faith through liturgies and prayer services, including the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Parents' Weekend Mass, Christmas Carroll Eve, and the Baccalaureate Mass. In addition to interfaith and other seasonal prayer services, eight Eucharistic liturgies are offered each week. Students provide leadership in liturgical ministries such as lector, Eucharistic minister, Mass coordinator, sacristan, cantor, choir member, musician, and acolyte. They also serve the community as music ministers and members of the Chapel Ensemble and the Schola Cantorum.

Some members of the Campus Ministry staff live in the residence halls, where they serve as chaplains.

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