Campus Ministry

The Office of Campus Ministry supports the faith and spirituality of all students at Santa Clara University.  Because  the University is grounded in the Catholic, Jesuit traditions, we welcome people of all faiths - those seeking a deeper relationship with God through their own faiths, as well as people seeking meaning and connection in their lives.  The professional ministry staff members are committed to building a campus community and supporting the full humanity of all people by fostering spirituality, wellness, and belonging. In addition to six full-time campus ministers, the office includes student ministry interns, spirituality facilitators in the residence halls, and desk assistants who foster hospitality. Our stance in Campus Ministry reflects our shared Jesuit that our faith comes alive when we work for justice in the world.

What does Campus Ministry have to offer?

• Worship: During the academic year, we sponsor three Sunday liturgies in the Mission Church, daily noon Mass, and annual Masses celebrating the University’s Catholic and Jesuit traditions. Throughout the year, the campus community is invited to participate in Misas en Español, the sacrament of reconciliation, and prayer services across campus to mark holidays both religious and secular across all faith denominations.
• Intercultural Ministry: Campus Ministry staff support a wide variety of cultural identity and faith-based student-led organizations.  We also have intercultural celebrations in observance of events such as Día de los Muertos, Simbang Gabi, Las Posadas, la Virgen de Guadalupe, and Lunar New Year, as well as intercultural liturgies for heritage months. In addition, Campus Ministry facilitates and participates in Mosaic events, which are multicultural and multifaith gatherings of students. Mosaic gatherings include monthly dinners, wellness events, campus-wide socials, and sacred space tours.
• Retreats: Santa Clara students are offered a number of retreat experiences over the course of the academic year.  Some of these align with other programming, such as LEAD or Hurtado scholars; others are open to all campus community members, such as the fall Faith Formation retreat.
• Spirituality and reflection groups: Campus Ministry organizes Ignatian Life Communities are opportunities for students to explore spiritual practice and identity in small groups of their peers.  Other opportunities include Mosaic  Dinner Discussions, weekly Breaking Open the Word (reflection on the lectionary readings), and a multifaith meditation group.  Individuals and groups seeking support to form reflection groups are encouraged to come to Campus Ministry for assistance.
• Residential Life Ministry: Campus Ministry is an integral part of the university’s Residential Life Community program, through collaboration and partnership with Offices of Student Life and Residential Life.  In the residence halls, graduate student Spirituality Facilitators provide spiritual accompaniment, offer student community wellness, and support the needs of residents as individuals and in community. The Spirituality Facilitators host weekly hospitality events, lead small conversation and reflection groups, and support the Residential Life staff in programming.  Full time staff members in Campus Ministry partner closely with Student Life to support student development on a regular basis and for crisis care.
• LGBTQ+ Ministry:  The Office of Campus Ministry models respect and support for students of all identities and orientations through its programming and its hospitality. Specific support includes sponsoring an annual delegation of students to attend IgnatianQ, a conference for LGBTQ+ students from Jesuit universities to “create community, develop spirituality, and build humanity.” This conference has inspired the Ignatian Life Community  Spiritual Queeries, a small group for queer students who are curious about the mysteries of the universe.
• Catholic Faith formation: Campus Ministry offers several opportunities for students to learn, reflect, and grow in regard to their faith through Scripture reflection, forums, seasonal devotions, and presentations. We also offer a year-long course of preparation for the sacraments of baptism, first Eucharist, and confirmation in the Catholic Church (RCIA) that coordinates with the Diocese of San Jose.
• Social justice awareness and action: Campus Ministry provides students with a variety of opportunities to live out a faith that does justice. Some key focus areas include participation in the annual Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice and service opportunities with local community organizations including, for example, Santa Maria Urban Ministry, Sunday Friends, Sacred Heart Community Center and the Center for Farmworker Families.
• Faith-based clubs: In partnership with the Center for Student Involvement, Campus Ministry aids in the mentoring and support of all faith-based registered student organizations, including, for example, the Muslim Student Association, Students for Life, the Jewish Student Union, College Catholics,  and the Sikh Student Association.
• Sacred spaces: Throughout campus, there are spaces for prayer, meditation, and reflection, such as the Mission Church, the Multifaith Sanctuary in St. Joseph’s Hall, and the Meditation Room in Benson.  All are welcome to find a place of rest in these sacred spaces.

We invite students to get involved with these ministries to explore their own faith, spirituality, and values.  Additionally, students can develop their own leadership skills by serving and leading in all program areas, as volunteers, or in one of a number of paid internships.

Is Campus Ministry for Everyone?

Yes! Student years are a particularly rich time for learning about ourselves and our world and practicing what it means to live our commitments of faith and value more justly in the world. Campus Ministry welcomes all SCU community members to deepen their spiritual practice, faith and  identity, regardless of their tradition or personal stance.

“The real measure of a Jesuit education is who our students become.   Tomorrow’s ‘whole person’ cannot be whole without a well-educated solidarity… . the whole person in solidarity for the real world.”  - Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior of the Society of Jesuits, speaking at Santa Clara University, October 2000.  

Our only focus is to support SCU community members to explore the connection between their commitments and their actions -  to practice living faith and values more authentically ‘to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world.’