Learn, Reflect and Serve: Celebrating 10 Years of Mission Week

Mission Week is a time for the Saint Joseph’s University community to come together and celebrate its shared commitment to Jesuit values and building a more just and thriving society. This year, from Feb. 14-23, 2025, Saint Joseph’s will be marking its 10th annual Mission Week by inviting students, faculty and staff to seminars, service opportunities, book discussions and more to dive deeper into the University’s Ignatian heritage.

The theme of this year’s Mission Week is Learn, Reflect and Serve. The 40 featured events will provide the University community with opportunities to learn about Saint Joseph's mission and what it means to be Jesuit, engage in self-reflection and give back to the community.

“Our Jesuit mission is at the heart of Saint Joseph’s University,” says Eric Thompson, Mission Week program manager. “This week can emphasize our mission and help our students become passionate leaders.”

Over the last several years, the Saint Joseph’s University community has grown to include two new locations and a plethora of new programs. In an effort to continue to bring these diverse communities together, Mission Week will now include a unique experience to celebrate the idea of “One Mission, One University:” Students, staff and faculty will be able to connect and interact with their peers in Lancaster on Hawk Hill and in University City through portal technology, inspired by Philadelphia’s popular portal exhibit.

"This installation utilizes technology in a fun way to show that although we are separated by distance, we are joined together by our shared mission."

The Mission Week portal will be located in the Hawk Hill Library Atrium, University City’s McNeil Science Center and the Lancaster Atrium, where community members are encouraged to stop by and connect with each other to discuss Mission Week topics or simply get to know one another. 

A preview of Mission Week events is as follows: 

Learn

Monday, Feb. 17

Java with a Jesuit

Enjoy free donuts and coffee while engaging in a conversation about Saint Joseph’s mission with a Jesuit! Meet and greet events with campus ministers will also happen on the Hawk Hill and University City locations. Stop by for a fun activity too!

Lancaster Atrium @ 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. All locations, various times | Learn more here

Wednesday, Feb. 19

Jesuit 101 Webinar

Led by President Dr. McConnell and Father Dan Joyce, discover the basics of Jesuit principles and key concepts such as cura personalis, magis, and finding God in all things — and learn how they shape Saint Joseph’s mission and our daily lives.

Online @ 12:30-1 p.m. | Complete the form to receive the Zoom link

Thursday, Feb. 20

Mission in Health Care

Join our panel of experts as they explore how students, particularly those in the healthcare industry, can integrate the Jesuit mission into their field of work.

Online @ 4-5 p.m. | Fill out the form to receive the Zoom link

Reflect

All Week

Chapel Open House

Visit the chapel on the Hawk Hill campus and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere with calming music, soothing lighting and reflection resources. A guided Examen will play automatically each day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

Chapel of St. Joseph, open all day | Learn more

Tuesday, Feb. 18

 Living with Depth & Praying with Presences

 This one hour session explores two ways to engage your faith life: Seeing the divine in what is around you & exploring your personal prayer practice. There is no pre-work and all faith journeys are welcome! The session will have invitations to share with the group, but sharing is not required for participation.

Online or Perch at Hawk Hill @ 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Fill out the form to register

Thursday, Feb. 20

Visio Divina: Sacred Seeing

Reflect on the theme of "Walking with the Excluded" by reflecting on works from the exhibit "Make or Break: Creativity as an Act of Survival," created by artists who created their work while incarcerated. Then join in an art-making activity, using art as a tool for prayer to engage personal and collective spiritual wholeness.

Maguire Art Museum @ 12-1 p.m. | Register Now

Serve

All Week

Community Drive

Donation drive to collect essential items to be sent to local organizations, including Cradles to Crayons, Food Connect Group and Sister of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Center.

Visit webpage to view accepted items and drop off locations

Monday, Feb 17 & Friday, Feb. 21
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Making Event
Join us in helping those experiencing homelessness in the Philadelphia area by making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We will have an event on University City and Hawk Hill campuses. 

University City DEI Lounge @ 12-1 p.m. | Hawk Hill Mandeville Dining Room @ 12-1 p.m. | Complete form for respective location. 

Tuesday, Feb. 18

Hawk Dogs for Haiti

Eat for a cause! Proceeds will benefit Foi et Joie Haiti school communities, which offer quality transformational education in underserved communities.

Post Commons Library & McNeil STC Atrium @ 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Place your order

Friday, Feb. 21

Employee & Alumni Community Service 

Employees, staff and alumni will spend their day at Cradles to Crayons, donating essential resources to children in need around the city. 

Shifts begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. | Signup required; form and more information available online. 

A full calendar of events can be found on the Mission Week website.

Beyond Mission Week, students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to continue spreading the University mission through service-learning courses, immersion programs and weekly service opportunities organized by Campus Ministry and the Faith-Justice Institute.

For those unable to attend Mission Week programming, making a gift in support of our mission allows Saint Joseph's to continue upholding and advancing our commitment to our Jesuit values.