Student Services

 Campus Ministry
The Department of Campus Ministry encourages students, faculty, staff, and administrators of JCU to integrate personal faith into the academic and social environment of the university.  We value the university’s commitment to academic pursuits, and welcome the opportunities we have to bring a Catholic and Ignatian faith perspective to bear on issues and trends that may surface in various disciplines.  We have identified the following statements as our purpose:

• We embrace the Jesuit, Catholic intellectual tradition as an indispensable partner in the search for truth and wisdom.
• We promote a faith that does justice through education, advocacy, service, and reflection.
• We foster the development of whole persons who are servant leaders in their local, global, and faith communities.
• We provide an open, caring, hospitable, and collaborative atmosphere that supports the mission of the university.
• We establish a sense of community through vibrant worship, retreats, and small faith communities, with Eucharist as the primary spiritual experience for Catholics.
• We advocate for a community comprised of a diversity of faith and spiritual perspectives that seeks both wisdom and a fuller spiritual life.

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 include Nicaragua, Jamaica, Ecuador, Appalachia West Virginia, Immokalee Florida, New Orleans, Chicago, 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, our Christian Life Communities (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.  Hundreds of students provide liturgical leadership by serving as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, Mass coordinators, sacristans, cantors, choir members, musicians, and acolytes.  They also serve the community as liturgy planners and members of the Chapel Ensemble and the Schola Cantorum.
Currently, graduate student members of the Campus Ministry staff live in the residence halls, where they serve as Resident Ministers

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