As the 2026 Jesuit Heritage Month comes to a close, we reflect on some of highlights from this 5th annual celebration of our Jesuit heritage and the value of Cura Personalis.
Fireside chat with the Jesuits and Mission Partners October 19, 2026
To kick off this year’s Jesuit Heritage Month, the Jesuit Community and Mission and Ministry hosted a panel for SCU students centered on cura personalis, our Jesuit value of care for the whole person. Staff members Fr. Julian Climaco, S.J. and Danielle de Haerne, along with alumna Megan Milligan '25, shared personal stories about their vocational journeys, reflecting on how discernment and prayer committed them to accompanying others with empathy and unconditional friendship.
Megan traced her path back to the Ignatian Center, where immersion programs and fellowships nurtured her time at SCU. Today she experiences deep joy as a teacher at Sacred Heart Nativity Schools, accompanying young students from the community. Danielle, Assistant Director of Violence Prevention, reflected on how crucial mentors were in her life "to be and to feel seen," inspiring her to offer that same experience to students today, as well as working for safe environments for all students on campus. Fr. Julian, Senior Program Director for Liturgy and Music, shared how returning to nursing during COVID-19 to care for his Jesuit brothers was a deeply crucial moment in his life, filling him with gratitude amid the challenges of the time. Today, he enjoys and reaffirms that his vocation is to accompany students in their life journeys at Santa Clara.
Accompanying with Mission November 2, 2026
At the inaugural gathering of the Accompanying with Mission series, the conversation centered on the Jesuit concept of the Cura:the commitment to caring for the person (cura personalis) and caring for the institution (cura apostolica).
Fr. Matthew Carnes, S.J. noted that while cura personalis is widely recognized on Jesuit campuses, cura apostolica is still new to many collaborators. His new book, Leadership Lessons from the Jesuits, aims to bridge this gap by bringing together diverse voices across the network, including lay leaders and Jesuits. Discussing the book, President Julie Sullivan highlighted essays by Fr. General Arturo Sosa, S.J., and Dr. Linda LeMura, echoing LeMura’s emphasis on how a strong core curriculum nurtures the holistic formation of every student.
The afternoon’s most resonant moments came as both leaders shared personal stories of mutual accompaniment through discernment—including the prayerful process that led President Sullivan to become Santa Clara University’s first laywoman president. Both emphasized how daily decision-making requires reflective listening and prayer, with Fr. Carnes sharing how Buddhist prayers enrich his own spiritual practice.
Attendees received copies of the book and were invited to carry these reflections back into their classrooms and team meetings to keep nurturing our Jesuit Heritage.
Why Don’t They Just Come Here the ‘Right’ Way? November 5, 2026
Participants from the recent faculty & staff immersion to the US-Mexico Border hosted this all-day event to center the experiences of our immigrant sisters, brothers, and siblings who face an immigration system that doesn’t allow for a helpful ‘right’ way to migrate to the US. The group set up six tables in the room, each with a different focus. The first table displayed items collected in the Arizona desert that migrants left behind while attempting to cross the border through the desert. This included backpacks, clothing, and food packaging. The second table included a bracelet-making station where participants made a bracelet with their local Rapid Response Network Number so they can quickly call if they detect ICE activity. The third table was the busiest, as it included an opportunity to write a personal letter to someone in a California detention center. The fourth table had six laptops where participants could “play” a Visa simulation game to see how difficult it is to obtain a Visa to the US. The fifth table gave participants an opportunity to write a letter about immigration to their congressional representatives. The sixth table became a quilting station where participants created a quilt of hope for migrants who remain stranded on the Mexican side of the border in Nogales, Sonora.
Over 110 people came by throughout the day, exceeding all expectations. It was especially moving to see how many students came by, looking for opportunities to support our immigrant communities in practical, hands-on ways.
Search for What Matters Featuring Fr. Andrew Laguna, SJ November 10
The Ignatian Center’s “Search for What Matters” speaker series invites faculty and staff members to reflect on the question “What matters to me and why?”. As this Fall’s featured speaker, Fr. Andrew Laguna, S.J. encouraged the 104 people in attendance to consider how each person is “a word of God spoken only once, never to be repeated again.” From this place of uniqueness, Laguna shared what matters most to him: to communicate to every single person, "You matter, and I’m here with you."
Fr. Laguna left the audience with three practical tips to cultivate more presence with each person they encounter:
Be open to disruption. Allow your day to be interrupted by the unexpected visit, the unforeseen need, the unplanned moments of fun or joy. Welcome that person who stops by your office at 4:55 pm. Emails and the to-do list can wait. There is nothing more important than the person in front of you.
One person at a time. Strive to be fully present to whomever you’re with. This might mean closing your laptop screen or putting your phone face down. Slow down, truly listen, and be open to real connection. How can you appreciate and enjoy this person as a unique word of God, spoken only once?
Let someone wash your feet. This isn’t always comfortable. Remember Peter’s reaction: “You will never wash my feet.” But it’s important to practice being received. Accept help from your colleagues, take a break that perhaps you haven’t “earned”; leave one thing undone this week. You are more than what you do, and it’s important to create space for the mystery of who you are to unfold.
