Be a part of this historic moment! Calling all John Carroll students, faculty, staff, alumni, and incoming first year students!
For over 15 years, Jesuit Day of Service has called us into our communities to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, to be men and women with and for others. In this unique moment, we have the opportunity to come together to serve our community in new and creative ways, unlike anything we have ever done before!
Participate in this unique opportunity through daily challenges such as:
• Watch a quick video from our community partners
• Record yourself reading a favorite children’s book
• Contact a local representative on a community issue
• Write a letter to someone experiencing social isolation
• Share a message on what makes you feel connected to your community
We will provide all the details you need to engage with the community in a whole new way!
How it works
Register now with your name and email HERE
Before Day 1, you will receive an introductory email with the schedule for the week
From Monday, April 20 through Saturday April 25, you will receive daily emails containing activities and challenges. (Your email will not be used for anything after this date and you can opt out at any time.)
Participate in as many or as few activities and challenges as you want. Share your activities with us through social media and online
On Saturday, April 25, we will celebrate our communities and our collective service.
What began jointly as a 125th anniversary celebration of John Carroll University and St. Ignatius High School has continued as a way of connecting, collaborating, and celebrating the shared mission of Jesuit institutions. What we wish to foster through this joint effort is a real experience of service and solidarity with mutual benefit to those we are with.
Purpose of the week:
Foster awareness of the network of Jesuit institutions in the greater Cleveland area.
Highlight the impact of a shared mission directed outwardly towards service to others.
Celebrate this joint collaboration of service to others.
Foster solidarity with one another and the community.
Witness to a greater purpose.
This project originated from an annual service day at JCU called “Cultivating Community Day” that began in the spring 2004 as part of Dr. Peggy Finucane’s class dedicated to learning about the economic, political, historical, and religious complexities of an urban neighborhood in Cleveland. In 2011, JCU partnered for the first time with St. Ignatius High School for a day of service in recognition of their joint 125th anniversaries. The day proved to be so popular that it led Councilman Joe Cimperman (St. Ignatius High School ’88 and JCU ’92) to suggest initiating a citywide day of service involving all of the Jesuit institutions in Northeast Ohio. In 2012, the name was changed to Jesuit Day of Service and the ten Jesuit institutions in the region partnered for a day of service together. Since then, it has evolved into an annual day of service inspired by the spirit of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. In 2014, close to 800 participants were involved and united in serving the local community.
This year, we have taken on the challenge - to find new creative ways to sustain the bonds of community and spirit of Jesuit Day of Service. Through JWOS, we hope to nurture a spirit of shared responsibility, hope, and be men and women with and for others - everyday.
Register HERE for JWOS!
“Cultivating–a simple word that calls forth images of wonderfully, ripe, red tomatoes, crisp green lettuce–but in the context of an experience between college students and community members it becomes much more. It is a cultivation of friendship, of exchange, of the future. A learning opportunity for all and an opening for possibilities of understanding not just how a vegetable is to become ready for consumption but how the act of planting together can lead to a better glimpse of each other, our differences, our weaknesses, our strengths and most importantly, our commonalities. It is not just plants growing in Cultivating Community.” -Dr. Mariana Ortega, Professor of Philosophy