Programs and Initiatives

University Ministry and Service staff members are committed to providing daily opportunities for worship and prayer in many ways. The experiences offered are designed to enhance spiritual life and to invite participation in celebrations of the Eucharist and other sacraments. These include daily mass, Bible reflection and discussion, prayer services, holy days of obligation, and the seasons of Advent and Lent. More specifically a University prayer book, a September 11th remembrance, a celebration of St. John Baptist de la Salle, penance services, and contemporary stations of the cross have been offered to the community. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to support various liturgies by participating as lectors, eucharistic ministers, bread bakers, artists, or musicians. A liturgy planning committee has also been established.

University Ministry and Service staff members work to provide spiritual and educational experiences through a student retreat program. A retreat planning committee has been formed to allow students to organize, develop, and participate in retreats throughout the academic year. Our student retreats feature opportunities for prayer, meditation, introspection, self-reflection, and discussion. Retreat formats include a new student retreat, a Kairos retreat, and other types of retreats for all students.

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, R.C.I.A, is a process within the Catholic Church through which adults receive the sacraments of initiation and become members of the Church. Participants meet weekly for the academic year to prepare for reception of baptism, first eucharist, and confirmation. For more information, please contact a Campus Minister.

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged and invited to participate in our many student-led service opportunities. Programs and activities are designed to enhance the spiritual life of our campus community as we help the people in our neighboring communities.

Ongoing Service Opportunities for students, faculty and staff

- Children’s programs include after-school tutoring programs for neighborhood children and mentoring programs such as Best Buddies, which works with mentally and physically challenged teenagers.
- Direct service programs focus on people in need of help or friendship, including work with the homeless, AIDS patients, and the elderly.
- Advocacy programs for social justice are designed to educate and inspire the campus community to take action in response to issues such as AIDS, homelessness, and sexual assault.
- Intensive service projects, such as our annual Branch Out days, further unite our campus community with our neighboring communities.
- Service trips allow members of our community to serve the needs of people in other parts of the world such as Harlan, Kentucky (Project Appalachia), Boston, Massachusetts (Week of Hope), and Tijuana, Mexico (Los Ninos).

Long-Term Service Opportunities for graduating and postgraduate students

- Lasallian Volunteers
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps
- Peace Corps

Community Service Scholars

These competitive scholarships are awarded to selected incoming freshmen who have demonstrated scholarly achievements and a dedication to community service.

Adult Learning Program

The objective of our program is to provide our neighboring communities’ adult students with the knowledge and skills needed to obtain successful careers and to lead productive lives. Our program provides the adult students with literacy skills and with information to help them play active roles in the education of their children and to lead lives carrying out the responsibilities of the Christian faith. The Adult Learning Program…

- offers both Adult Education and English Literacy classes in the morning and evening,
- has classes that have two sessions per week,
- is a 10-month program divided into fall and spring semesters, and
- is affiliated with the Philadelphia Adult Education Network, composed of the YMCA of Philadelphia, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Jewish Community Center’s David Neuman Senior Center, Germantown Women’s Educational Program, and the Elkins Park Library.