Remembering our Beloved Dead, Living their Legacy

In the Catholic liturgical calendar, November is the month of the dead. Beginning with the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls, it invites us to remember all of our beloved dead, the generations that have come before us and blessed us with our lives and our faith, and whose stories serve as witness and inspiration to us. We begin this remembrance close to home, of course, with our own dear grandparents and parents, friends and mentors and caregivers, siblings and others who have passed on into God’s loving embrace. We inscribe their names in the Book of the Dead in the Mission, and we remember them each day in our prayers and Masses.

Over the last four years, the celebration of the dead has taken on new dimensions here at Santa Clara through what is called “El Camino de los Muertos.” Cosponsored by the University, the Mexican Consulate, and Univisión, this event now draws over 5,000 people to campus. Its centerpiece is a massive, bilingual Mass of Remembrance in the Mission Church, and it features dozens of altars of remembrance in which members of the community can place pictures of loved ones amid flowers, sweet treats, and other beautiful decorations. Mariachis sing, students perform ballet folklórico, and Mexican food and drink overflow from stands. The connection to the courageous, generous generations that have come before us is palpable, and families ranging from two to 102 walk hand-in-hand sharing stories.

Among the many remembrances, too, are the small white crosses in front of the Mission Church. Placed there by students on the night of the murder of the six Jesuit priests and two laywomen in El Salvador in 1989, they inspire us with the witness of those eight lives to faith, justice, peace, and reconciliation. They remind us that we have been blessed with a legacy of so much life and goodness, and that we have a responsibility to make sure that life and goodness are available to all. 

In this newsletter, you can read about how our students made the most of the past summer and year to deepen their understanding of the grace-filled opportunities and responsibilities we have inherited from previous generations here at Santa Clara. Some engaged in full-time service and accompaniment in our Jean Donovan Fellowship program. Others left their phones and friends behind for several days of silent retreat, leaning into the wordless beauty and wonder of nature and the God who loves us so completely. 

The Practice of Patience

Learning Through Accompaniment | Jean Donovan Fellowship Reflections

As the 2026 summer came to an end, our 17 Jean Donovan Fellows wrapped up their engagement with community-based organizations from around the world and shared their experiences and reflections of this time spent in accompaniment with organizations addressing social justice issues. Three of the fellows reflected on their new understanding of what it means to stay, listen, and to walk alongside a community. From the California Coast to Chile to India, each of them learned that showing up is where the work begins.

The AMDG Fellowship

This past year we introduced a new fellowship opportunity for SCU students – the AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam) Fellowship. This unique year-long commitment that offers students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Ignatian Spirituality and reflect upon their Catholic faith identity. During the fall and winter months of their year in AMDG, fellows took part in a weekend-long silent retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises. Our own Valerie Sarma, Sr. Program Director of Student Engagement, explains how this experience allowed students to quiet the exterior noise of their lives and listen attentively for God’s voice.

Watch and learn more about this AMDG experience

Rooted in a faith that does justice, the Ignatian Center's Arrupe Engagement partners with local community organizations whose members and clients serve as co-educators for Santa Clara University students. Informed by and in conversation with Catholic social tradition, the Center facilitates community-based learning opportunities that underscore commitments to the common good, universal human dignity, justice as participation, and solidarity with marginalized communities.