Students gather during “Sneaux” at Loyola University New Orleans on December 3 (photo by Kyle Encar)
The BC Bells (a Liturgy Arts group at Boston College) performed during this year’s tree lighting ceremony on December 3 (photo courtesy of Boston College’s Office of University Communications)
Arrupe College student Diavionne Armstrong and campus minister Sarah Miklius participate in the annual tree trimming in Wintrust Student Commons at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago on December 2 (Photo by Lukas Keapproth)
Georgetown University at Christmas (photo courtesy of Georgetown University’s Office of Communication)
L-R: Rev. Nathan Wendt, S.J., Professor Dawn Tolonen and Professor Zachary Russell at Xavier University’s Holiday Celebration on December 13 (photo courtesy of Gregory Rust for Xavier University)
Loyola University Maryland at Christmas (photo courtesy of Loyola University Maryland’s Office of University Communications)
Fairfield University students sing on campus during the 2019 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (photo courtesy of Fairfield University’s Office of Marketing and Communications)
Jermal Perkins, junior at Rockhurst University, took a turn on Santa’s lap at the 2019 Santa in the Rock Room, an annual event for young alumni families (photo by Gabrielle Brancato for Rockhurst University)
Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi, President of the University of Detroit Mercy, spoke to members of the Detroit Mercy community during a celebration on December 14 to mark the successful completion of a $100 million capital campaign (photo courtesy of the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University of Detroit Mercy)
“Chicago Nativity” by R. Michael Palan, commissioned for The James and Emilia Govan Crèche Collection, is currently on display in the Loyola University Museum of Art (photo by Lukas Keapproth for Loyola University Chicago)
Santa Claus made an appearance on campus at Regis University during this year’s tree lighting ceremony (photo by Brett Stakelin)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Across the country, our campuses are lit with dazzling lights; our churches are filled with beautiful choral music; and our communities are being served by our generous students.
It has become a tradition for our schools to produce Christmas videos featuring greetings and well wishes from presidents, faculty, staff and students. Please click on the icons below to view this year’s videos. We want to give a special thank you to the AJCU Marketing & Communications Network for sharing these beautiful videos (and above photos) with us, and for putting so much time and energy into their productions. We hope you enjoy seeing Christmas on campus this year!
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Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
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Saint Peter’s University (Jersey City, NJ)
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John Carroll University (University Heights, OH)
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Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO)
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Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
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Creighton University (Omaha, NE)
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Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL)
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Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL)
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Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.)
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Regis University (Denver, CO)
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Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)
University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
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Rockhurst University (Kansas City, MO)
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Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA)
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The University of Scranton (Scranton, PA)
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Fordham University (Bronx & Manhattan, NY)
Saint Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, PA)
Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT)
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Seattle University (Seattle, WA)
Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI)
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Loyola University Maryland (Baltimore, MD)
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Le Moyne College (Syracuse, NY)
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College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA)
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Canisius University (Buffalo, NY)
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Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
*Note: A video from Fairfield University is on the way!
More highlights from the season include campus celebrations at Boston College, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Loyola Marymount University, Loyola University New Orleans, Saint Louis University and The University of Scranton.
This year’s Festival of Lessons and Carols took on great meaning for George P. Miller, founder and director of the Chapel Choir at Loyola University Maryland. On December 6, Miller conducted the world premiere of a new setting of a traditional British carol (“Lullay, My Liking”), commissioned for him by a 2007 Loyola graduate, John Oghia. Oghia was a student of Miller’s, and wanted to pay tribute to him on the occasion of his 35th anniversary working at Loyola.
One of the the most famous “Christmas crooners” just happened to be a native of Spokane who attended Gonzaga University: Bing Crosby. During the holiday season, the Bing Crosby House Museum, located at the main entrance to Gonzaga, draws visitors from across the country; take a virtual tour from the comfort of your home by clicking here.
You may have found yourself among the millions of Americans who watched Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel this season; did you know that the CEO of Crown Media Family Networks is Jesuit-educated? Bill Abbott is a 1984 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross; click here to read his reflections on Holy Cross and the holidays.
This year, Saint Joseph’s University shared gift ideas for individuals who have autism: click here for a list of sensory-friendly gifts from the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support. Saint Joseph’s also shared tips to make the holiday season more ethical and sustainable; check them out here.
Leading up to the Christmas season, many Jesuit colleges and universities produced online Advent calendars or shared reflections, including Gonzaga University, Saint Louis University, Spring Hill College and Xavier University.
And several schools made headlines! Le Moyne College’s Christmas video was featured in Inside Higher Ed, while a Le Moyne psychology professor commented on the impact of holiday decorations for USA Today. Rockhurst University students made Christmas special for local children with disabilities, by adapting toys to make them more accessible; their work was featured on Kansas City’s local ABC affiliate.
Finally, we want to share Christmas greetings from our president, Rev. Michael J. Sheeran, S.J. Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year!
