John Carroll University’s annual Mission Week returned this semester with six days of programming designed to invite students, faculty, and staff to pause, reflect, and engage more deeply with the university’s Jesuit identity and mission.
Sponsored by the Office of University Mission & Identity, Mission Week 2026 focused on one of the University’s three mission priorities: Illuminating Our Jesuit Advantage, and connected it to the emerging Onward platform as a key expression of that commitment.
“Mission Week is an annual opportunity that invites us to consider what it means to be a Jesuit institution. One of my favorite parts of the week this year was the staff and faculty luncheon, featuring Father Eric Immell, SJ, who spoke on the importance of reflection and discernment in our work. That practice of reflection is definitely one of our great, distinguishing advantages.”
This year, events included:
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- Mission Week Opening Mass and Dessert Reception in St. Francis Chapel
- Interactive Activities on Reflection and Discernment in the Lombardo Student Center
- Discussing Onward Through an Ignatian Lens workshops for students, faculty, and staff
- Climate Change and the Virtues of Pessimism, a lecture by Dr. Roy Scranton of the University of Notre Dame
- Tower Time: Our Jesuit Advantage & Onward
- Staff and Faculty Luncheon and Lunch and Learn for Students, both led by Fr. Eric Immel, SJ
The Jesuit Advantage
Rooted in 500 years of Jesuit educational tradition, John Carroll forms the whole person. Rather than focusing solely on what students learn, Jesuit education invites them to consider how they make meaning of their experiences, reflect on values, consider multiple perspectives, and make decisions aligned with purpose and responsibility to others.
A central moment of Mission Week this year was the Celebration of Service Awards Ceremony, recognizing members of the JCU community whose lives embody that commitment to service.
2026 Service Awards recipients included:
- Curtis W. Miles Faculty Award for Community Service: Dr. Michael A. Nichols, Chemistry
- George B. Sweeney Endowed Campion Award for Community Service - Student recipients: Anthony Miranda '27 and Sadhana Seetalall '27
- Staff Award for Community Service: Selen Zarrelli, Center for Student Belonging
Sister Kathrine Feely, Director of the Center for Service-learning and Social Action (CSSA), reminded attendees that service is “a profound responsibility to drive social change.”
Sadhana Seetalall ’27 reflected, “Service begins with connection. What’s stayed with me most isn’t the service itself, but the people—the conversations, the trust, the moments that made the experiences real. Even the simplest acts of connection can leave a lasting impact.”
Onward and the Future of the JCU Student Experience
Set to officially launch in the Fall of 2026, John Carroll's Onward platform embodies the University’s mission of accompaniment, ensuring every student receives personalized guidance throughout their college journey.
By aligning Mission Week with Onward, the University demonstrated that Jesuit values are not just philosophical ideals—they are practical commitments shaping the future of the JCU student experience.
Next year’s Mission Week will focus on John Carroll’s third mission priority, Igniting Purpose Through Care for the Whole Person.
