Mission Integration 2021-22 Annual Report
The theme of this year’s annual report — waiting in joyful hope — is also an apt description of the 2021-22 academic year at the University of San Diego. While there was much to celebrate, even now, we continue to wait — not just for what was true before the pandemic, but for the our new normal to arrive. All of us in the division of Mission Integration continue to be attentive to where the Spirit is moving, and to reflect upon how we can most effectively serve the USD community at this particular moment, discerning who God is inviting us to become: individually, collectively and institutionally.
JoyfulHope
Waiting in joyful hope, of course, is more than a theme. It is a phrase inspired by the Lord’s prayer we recite each time we celebrate Eucharist. It reminds us that we are always in between — having already received God’s definitive revelation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus while not yet realizing the fullness of God’s love, justice and peace.
Michael Lovette-Colyer, PhD Vice President, Mission Integration
During this time when our world faces so many urgent challenges, we are in between in many ways and on multiple levels. To be sure, the wars, conflict, suffering and injustice in the daily news can be staggering; yet we celebrate the countless blessings of this past academic year while rededicating ourselves to the crucial work of preparing innovative changemakers dedicated to confronting and overcoming those challenges in the years to come.
A second arena of discernment was our extended reflection on the role of the Division of Mission Integration. In this first year of the division being structured and named in this way, we sought clarity into our distinctive contribution to the university’s success. This process led to the establishment of several short- and medium-term strategic goals designed to foster the integration of our mission, values, vision and Catholic identity across the institution. These goals, particularly new formation programs for faculty and administrators, will be launched in the 2022-23 academic year.
After two long years of pandemic disruptions, the return to in-person learning, worshiping, serving and being together in community was truly joyful. This report illustrates some of many ways that beauty and goodness unfolded on our campus over these past 12 months.
One key way we engaged in discernment was through our participation in the universal Church’s synodal process. Drawing on the structure created by the Diocese of San Diego, team members in University Ministry developed a process designed to respond to the needs and reality of our students. As we listened carefully to their expressions of where they experience joy, challenge and hope in the Church, we gained valuable insight into how to adjust our ministry in order to speak to the deep longings of their hearts. We look forward to implementing those ideas in the coming year.
MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ALL FAITH SERVICE
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AND FARMWORKERS MASS
Among the most exciting, enjoyable and meaningful aspects of the year was the ability to welcome the university community back into Founders Chapel. We resumed our regular rhythm of Masses as well as beautiful USD traditions such as the Mass of Welcome, Homecoming and Family Weekend Mass, Alumni Christmas Mass, Candlelight Mass and Baccalaureate Mass.
COVID REMEMBRANCE PRAYER SERVICE
The Francis G. Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture (CCTC), in partnership with the Music Department, sponsored an Interfaith Prayer Service to remember those who have died as a result of the pandemic. Held on All Souls Day, a day specially designated by the Catholic Church to remember our beloved dead, the event highlighted members of the USD community who have died from COVID as well as their loved ones mourning those deaths.
In support of USD’s movement toward becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we dedicated more staff time, energy and other resources to these long-standing campus traditions. In addition, we began celebrating the daily Mass in Spanish every Wednesday.
LESSONS AND CAROLS
As has been customary at Catholic universities around the world for centuries, we began the academic year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit — bringing together students, faculty, administrators and staff to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the year. We launched the spring semester with the 29th annual All Faith Service, celebrating the various faith traditions present on our campus and reflecting on the theme of “Together in Transition: Cultivating Community in Uncertain Times.”
After two years without being able to do so, the CCTC once again hosted Lessons and Carols. This wonderful Advent tradition incorporates readings from the Old and New Testaments interspersed with beautiful music with a focus on preparing for the celebration of Christmas.
Regathering
— Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, RSCJ
DIVERSITY SAINTS SERIES
We continue to recognize, welcome and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging — as well as support the university’s efforts in these areas. In addition to the Our Lady of Guadalupe and Farmworkers celebrations, we launched two new DEI initiatives and one new student program this year.
In order to meet the needs of our students, University Ministry designed and implemented a brand new program titled Love Decides Everything Week . Inspired by National Sisters Week, the purpose of this new initiative was to encourage students to consider vocations to vowed religious life as well as provide them with discernment tools they can use as they navigate decisions related to their major, relationships and in other aspects of their lives. The week included a discernment workshop, a reflection on the joys of religious life, a panel discussion as well as daily social media posts highlighting a religious sister who graduated from USD.
As a way of drawing attention to the diversity of holy women and men, we featured a series of lectures on less recognized saints and saints-to-be that reflect the diversity of the global Church. The individuals featured included St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the six Black saints-in-waiting, Mother Rosalie Hill, RSCJ, and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Likewise, we worked with the Black Employee Alliance to plan and host the first ever campus celebration of Juneteenth.
JUNETEENTH To help mark the first year of the university observing this federal holiday, our division led the creation of a video that explained the history and significance of the occasion.
Refocusing
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LOVE DECIDES EVERYTHING WEEK
“Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world.”
GRATITUDE GROUP
RETREATS After two years of virtual retreats, we were overjoyed to resume in-person retreat experiences. Altogether, 270 students participated in one of the six retreats offered throughout the year. The programs offered included the Pre-Orientation, First Year, Search, Lenten and Senior retreats.
Reflecting
In their own way, each of the various offices in the Division of Mission Integration support the spiritual growth and faith development of all members of the USD community. Offering these opportunities in person once again was one of the most prominent blessings of the year.
FAITH-SHARING GROUPS
FACULTY STAFF PRAYER BREAKFASTS
ADVENT CALENDAR
The USD online Advent Calendar once again offered glimpses of the beauty and grace of the season on campus to alumni, families, students, faculty, staff and friends around the world. Each day featured a video reflection, prayer, song, or other treat along with a scriptural reflection.
Held once each semester, these morning gatherings seek to support the spiritual lives of USD employees by providing nourishment for body and soul. The fall breakfast focused on the topic of “Discovering the Sacred in the In Between” while the spring gathering considered “Love and Mercy: God’s Heart.”
Six faith-sharing groups engaged 111 students on a regular basis, helping them make authentic friends, experience God’s love, and discern God’s call.
IMMERSION For the first time since the start of the pandemic, we were able to host an immersion experience, providing eight students with an extended experience of education and solidarity at the U.S./Mexico border.
Thirty-seven people participated in this weekly group designed to cultivate a deep sense of thankfulness and contemplation.
Sharon Cateyano is a longtime USD employee, having previously worked in the Human Resources Office. She now serves as Executive Assistant for the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture.
More than 30 faculty members applied to participate in this newly created seminar for the 2022-23 academic year. Thirteen were accepted and will meet once a month, exploring the ways in which the Catholic Intellectual Tradition is a resource for their teaching, research and service.
NEW MISSION INTEGRATION TEAM MEMBERS
Rejuvenating
During the 2021-22 academic year, we worked with the Office of the Provost, the Dean of every academic unit, and the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to enhance the university’s Hiring for Mission efforts. Designed to engage faculty candidates in conversation about USD’s mission and how they imagine supporting it through their teaching, research and service, the process also emphasized that our commitment to diversity is integral to our Catholic mission. Through this work, our team spoke with more than 90 finalists for faculty positions.
FACULTY SEMINAR ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
We welcomed four new team members to our team this year. The new Director of University Ministry, Christian Santa Maria, came to us from the University of Notre Dame where he served as the Assistant Director for Spirituality for four Sisteryears.Maria Dela Paz, OSF, previously worked in USD’s Office of Student Success. We are delighted she has transitioned to the University Ministry team with one of her primary roles being the coordination of the Search Retreat. After working with high school students and young adults in the Bay Area for many years, Father Greg McGiven now serves as a University Chaplain and oversees the University Ministry Scholar program.
We are immensely grateful and joyful to have each of these four talented people on our team; each one is a blessing to our division and the USD community.
NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION
To foster the successful onboarding of our new faculty, we have worked with the Office of the Provost throughout the year to redesign the new faculty orientation. The program is now organized by themes directly connected to our mission and Catholic identity, including the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, human dignity and community.
“What gives me joy and hope is the simple delight in being alive. It is also the deep spiritual satisfaction I experience when I am able to be in community to serve others, particularly our USD students, and be glad for their good fortune, health, happiness and success.”
— Christian Santa Maria, Director of University Ministry
— Sharon Cateyano, Executive Assistant
— Father Greg McGivern, University Chaplain
“I am beyond grateful being part of The Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Mission Integration team! Planning and being involved in various CCTC and MI events bring me joy and hope knowing that these meaningful events also bring joy, hope and positive impact to the USD community.”
“It has been a joy to journey with students this past year as they continue to discover what it means to be their authentic selves and to discover God’s call within their lives. Witnessing this transformation in our students, as they navigate several challenges in our world today, is what gives me hope for the future and reminds me why I love the work that we do in University Ministry.”
— Sister Maria Dela Paz, OSF, University Minister
“ Joy and hope are two sides of the same coin. In these times of uncertainty and challenge, discovering moments of joy in a student’s growth, moments of laughter, and uncovering deep meaning have been gifts in my life. These joyful moments lead me to hope because they remind me that love is greater than fear and suffering. I try to ground myself in the tension between joy and hope, knowing that one is always waiting around the corner.”
MISSION INTEGRATION 5998 Alcalá Park Founders Hall, Room 186-A San Diego, CA 92110-2492 (619) 260-4656 sandiego.edu/missionofficeformission@sandiego.edu
