Jesuit Heritage Month | Cura Personalis
October 19 - November 19, 2026
As we celebrate Jesuit Heritage Month 2026, we give special thanks for the way our SCU tradition calls us to practice cura personalis, care for the whole person in mind, body, soul, and spirit.
Our Jesuit heritage traces back five centuries to when Saint Ignatius of Loyola recognized with profound clarity our need to accompany and be accompanied through every dimension of life. This involves honoring our unique gifts, backgrounds, challenges, needs, and possibilities, both in ourselves and in every member of our community. According to Catherine Peters (2021), this whole-person care underwent a defining moment for the Society of Jesus in 1934, when Superior General Wladimir Ledóchowski formally began calling it cura personalis. Ledóchowski emphasized that caring for the individual is central to Jesuit education, and that its ultimate purpose is to see the life of every person and community as an expression of love, joy, and justice, in union with God – the divine and ever-greater presence that surrounds us.
Our programming throughout this month will place cura personalis front and center, and will help us all grow in practicing intentional presence and accompaniment for one another amid new realities and societal challenges.
Join us in this celebration of our university’s mission and values!
Fireside Chat with the Jesuits
7 - 8:30 PM
Jesuit Community Residence
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jesuits and alumni as they share their personal stories about their vocation, spiritual journey, and unwavering commitment to accompany others in their whole humanity. Light refreshments will be provided.
Agape Latte: Celebrating One Year of Capeltic on Campus!
4:45 - 5:50 PM
Nobili Dining Room
Join us for free iced Horchata lattes, pan de muerto, and light refreshments as we learn about the indigenous cooperative on campus and celebrate Capeltic's one-year anniversary at SCU!
New Faculty & Staff Dinner
5 - 8 PM
Locatelli Center
Caring for our community means celebrating every single member—especially our newest faculty and staff! This invitation-only event welcomes our newest colleagues into the Santa Clara University community and our Jesuit, Catholic mission. Join us to break bread, connect, and celebrate your arrival on campus.
Shakespeare, Mass Incarceration, and the Healing Power of Theater
1 PM
Williman Room | Benson
Join this interactive talk and workshop by Lesley Currier, the founding Managing Director of the Marin Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare for Social Justice. Learn about the crisis in mass incarceration across the US and explore the power of theater to build bridges, foster empathy, and transform lives.
The Red Mass
5:30 PM
Mission Church
Join our School of Law and the St. Thomas More Society of Santa Clara County for the 2026 Red Mass celebrated by Bishop Oscar Cantú and the conferral of the St. Thomas More Award to Hon. Vanessa A. Zecher (Ret.) '84, JD '87. No RSVP is required for Mass.
El Camino de los Muertos
5 - 9 PM
SCU Campus
Join SCU and our local communities as we celebrate “El Día de los Muertos!” In partnership with Enrollment Management, Inclusive Excellence, Mission & Ministry, the Mexican Consulate of San Jose, and Univision, the 4th year of this annual tradition will once again attract thousands of people from neighboring cities and counties to our campus!
Accompanying with Mission
12 - 1 PM
Williman Room | Benson
Join us for a book presentation featuring Matthew Carnes, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry and editor of Leadership Lessons from the Jesuits, along with President Julie Sullivan. Together, they will share personal insights and explore what it means to lead through the lens of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and cura apostolica (care for the institution) today! Lunch and book copies will be available for attendees.
Caminos al Bienestar Wellness Workshop
10 AM - 12 Noon
Nobili Dining Room
Join the Promotoras from Caminos al Bienestar, a Thriving Neighbors program, for a welcoming, interactive workshop about well-being, with practical tools and opportunities for reflection and conversation. The session will be offered in Spanish.
Why Don’t They Just Come Here the "Right" Way?
10 AM - 4 PM
Williman Room | Benson
Join us for a day of supporting our immigrant communities. Participants from recent immersions to the US-Mexico Border are providing visual displays, interactive exhibits, spiritual nourishment, food, and opportunities to advocate for those who migrate.
Slices of Religious Life
6:30 - 7:30 PM
In front of Mission Church
Come eat pizza with some religious sisters, brothers, and priests! This is a great opportunity to casually connect with people who have answered the call to religious life and to hear their stories.
Search for What Matters
12 - 1 PM
Williman Room | Benson
Featuring Andrew Laguna, SJ - This popular luncheon series for faculty and staff serves to foster a culture of discernment and vocational reflection in the Ignatian tradition as faculty, staff, and Jesuits respond to the question "what matters to you and why?" Lunch is provided.
Youth Environmental Justice Community Organizing Exchange
5 - 7 PM
Williman Room | Benson
This interactive, participatory event brings together local community youth organizations in the Bay Area, including HOPE Collaborative, Climate Resilient Communities, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action Committee, and Indigenous Justice Coalition. Light refreshments will be provided!
Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice Watch Party
3-5 PM
Center for Spirituality and Faith | Benson 105
Join us for a watch party for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, the country's largest annual Catholic justice gathering! Together, we’ll engage in this year’s theme, “Amplify for Peace, Justice, and Community,” through prayer, learning, and advocacy.
Mass of Remembrance | UCA Salvadoran Martyrs
8 PM
Mission Church
You are invited to a special Commemorative Mass honoring the martyrs of the UCA El Salvador. Together in prayer, we will remember those who dedicated their lives to a faith that does justice, reflecting on their prophetic commitment and our shared bonds of solidarity through education. All are welcome! Pupusas will be served following the Mass.
Signs of the Times | Panel on Solidarity & Social Justice Incubator
11:45 AM - 12:50 PM
Forbes, Lucas Hall
We invite you to a panel discussion on living out a deep spirituality that connects with social justice issues closest to our hearts. This is a space where we can collectively discern, collaborate, and put our shared faith into action! Lunch will be provided to participants.