Building on the inspiring and faith-filled Ignatian themes of En Todo Amar y Servir and Imagine, the Office of Mission and Ministry is unveiling the Ignatian theme for the upcoming academic year: “I have called you friends.”
The theme stems from John 15:15 and is meant to inspire campus to connect with people: those we have known our entire lives, and others we have just met.
“To live connected is to walk gently, listen deeply, and love boldly,” the theme statement reads. “To choose belonging over isolation.”
“In times such as these, we must remember to love each other as God loves us, unconditionally,” says Rev. John Thiede, S.J., vice president for Mission and Ministry. “Once we learn more about each other — to truly connect — we often realize that we share the same values and are more alike than we first realized, and through our encounter with others experience the love that God has for us.”
Throughout the year, the Office of Mission and Ministry will be coordinating events and activities centered on this theme. More information will be shared in Marquette Today.
Thematic Statement
Connection is more than proximity — it’s presence. It’s the sacred practice of drawing near: to God, to ourselves and to one another.
In Ignatian spirituality, we connect by paying attention — noticing where we feel most alive, where we are being called, and where God is already at work.
We connect through reflection, recognizing the quiet voice within. We connect in friendship, finding God in each person we meet. We connect through service, rooted in compassion and a desire for justice.
To live connected is to walk gently, listen deeply, and love boldly. To choose belonging over isolation. To remember that God is not distant, but with us — and within us — in every step we take.
God, draw us near. Connect us to your Spirit alive in all things. Make us more aware, more compassionate and more whole — so that we may live each day with intention, and love as you do.
