Ignatian Summer Series

Short Program Description:

Discover the arts through an Ignatian lens with Marquette University’s Ignatian Summer Series — a welcoming space where creativity, reflection, and community come together.

Since its beginning in Summer 2022, the series has offered a variety of hands-on experiences, including watercolor painting, pasta and bread making, creative writing, music sessions, walking retreats, a sunrise Mass, and more! Each event invites participants to slow down, connect with others, and find God in all things.

Most sessions take place by the Gratitude Garden and the St. Joan of Arc Chapel.

As a fun bonus, every session attended earns participants an entry into a Marquette swag drawing. The winner is announced at the final event of the season.

Program Goals/Intended Outcomes:

1. Foster Ignatian Spirituality Through Creativity
Provide opportunities for participants to encounter God through artistic and reflective practices grounded in Ignatian principles.

2. Build and Strengthen Community
Create a welcoming environment where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends can connect meaningfully through shared creative experiences.

3. Encourage Mindful Presence and Reflection
Offer space for participants to slow down, unplug, and cultivate awareness through art, nature, and contemplative activities.

4. Engage the Campus Environment
Utilize the Gratitude Garden, St. Joan of Arc Chapel, and other campus spaces as settings for reflection, beauty, and community-building.

5. Invite Broad Participation
Ensure all sessions are accessible and inclusive so people from all backgrounds feel comfortable joining and returning.

6. Promote Holistic Well-Being
Support emotional, spiritual, and creative well-being through hands-on, restorative experiences.

7. Celebrate the Joy of Learning and Creating
Encourage experimentation and play while learning new artistic or culinary skills in a low-pressure setting.

How long does it take to complete the program?: Multiple days

Further Details on Completing Program: Typically over a lunch hour.

Total Program Length: Typically, there are six sessions over 2.5 months.

Key University/Other Partners: Mission and Ministry (with support from partners throughout the University)

Funding Source(s): Mission and Ministry's operating budget (a lot of work is done to prepare the events in a way that brings costs down)

Stipends Paid or Other Participant Benefits: Release Time

Lessons Learned:

– Creating a series of events that includes artistic opportunities, reflective opportunities, and academic opportunities brings a wider range of individuals.

– Be creative and take risks when planning events. Dream big! This year, Mission and Ministry taught more than 50 people how to make homemade bread and more than 100 people to create a piece of art. Challenge participants to learn something new to share with others. (“Did we ever think of meeting at 4am to cook breakfast sandwiches for a sunrise Mass at Lake Michigan? No, but it was beautiful and worth it.”)

– The lunch hour has been a good fit for this program.

Assessment Data:

Everyone who engages with this series is added to a Microsoft Teams site where the group is invited to share pictures from the events and polled for ideas on future events they would like to attend (It is also a space to share other Mission events and Masses throughout the year).

Please Provide Any Other Information:

A fun part of this series is holding a swag draw at the last event of the season. People’s names are added to the drawing list at each event they attend, and one person wins the grand prize! Everyone is happy, grateful, and excited for one another.