Saint Joseph’s first annual Mission Week will be held Monday, March 16 through Saturday, March 21, and will bring the SJU community together to support the University’s mission.

“I think our community is very humble,” says Karin Botto ’00, executive director of organization development and Ignatian leadership. “We don’t tell our story often, so we hope to shine a light on all the amazing things that are happening here.”

SJU’s mission statement, which was revised and released in February 2014, is the result of a yearlong writing and discernment process in the Ignatian tradition. Led by Botto and E. Springs Steele, Ph.D., associate provost for mission, this process included brainstorming sessions with the Board of Trustees, 16 open sessions of more than 225 SJU community members, and online surveys of over 850 students, faculty and staff.

A committee of 30 students, faculty and staff from across the University has been working since December to develop Mission Week, chosen to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph’s on Thursday, March 19.

“When you bring together highly creative people,” says Steele, “the events and ideas that evolve are inspiring. We are a campus full of people who are committed to Saint Joseph’s. Creating our first Mission Week has been a great opportunity to involve colleagues from many departments within the heart of SJU.” A full schedule of events can be found online.