Student Services

Campus Ministry
The Department of Campus Ministry encourages the students, faculty, staff, and administrators of John Carroll 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 emphasize the service of faith and the promotion of 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 immersion experiences.  Students travel with faculty and administrators to rural, urban, and international destinations.  Together, members of the John Carroll community serve others, experience their cultures, and build lasting friendships.  Recent trips include Nicaragua; Jamaica; Ecuador; Appalachia; West Virginia; Immokalee, Florida; New Orleans; Baltimore; and Camden, New Jersey.

Our 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 into 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 liturgy planners, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, Mass coordinators, sacristans, cantors, choir members, musicians, and acolytes. 

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