Service & Justice
We invite all students to explore what it means to live a "faith that does justice." Here you can find information about various local community service opportunities and ways in which you can work for social justice. You can also find resources to help you continue this journey after graduation.
Immersion Programs
Winter Immersion Program
You will build community at weekly community gathers, bond with a small group - familia - for both semesters, learn about the communities you will encounter, immerse on site during Winter Break, reflect on your experiences, and the further work of justice to which you're are called!
WIP's primary focus is to walk with you as you discern how to live in solidarity with the materially poor and marginalized, especially upon return to campus. WIP is rooted in Ignatian values, human dignity, Catholic Social Teaching, liberation theology, and the building of relationships as we share our humanity. Our hope is to transform minds, hearts, and hands to live out a faith that does justice.
The Appalachian Experience (APEX)
The Appalachian Experience is a Spring Break immersion program that is committed to serving with and for others while learning about the culture and concerns of the people of the Appalachian region. Participants will meet together several times throughout the year for preparation, education, and team-building, all of which lead toward the spring break immersion experience in which they seek to learn, serve, and grow in relationship with the people they encounter.
Ignatian Family Teach-in
Join the Ignatian Solidarity Network as they continue the tradition of convening the Ignatian family to honor the life of the Salvadoran martyrs and respond to the justice issues of our day.
Convened every year, ISN invites the Ignatian family to attend a three-day learning experience to dialogue and strategize about ways to confront issues of injustice, poverty, and oppression both nationally and internationally.
Each year the Teach-In is followed by an Advocacy Day and SJU sends a delegation of students, staff, and faculty.
The next Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice will be held in Washington, DC from Oct. 28-30th, 2023.
Catholic Relief Services
Passionate about the common good? Care about global issues? Want to explore the link between faith and justice? Join us! Check out the Campus Ministry Instagram for updates.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 to serve the displaced survivors of World War II in Europe, but has since been expanded to reach over 90 countries around the world. Regardless of race, religion or ethnicity, CRS serves those in the greatest need around the world through the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to better promote the life and dignity of each human person.
Students involved with CRS are those with a commitment to social justice and global solidarity who work on their campus to build a constituency for the globally vulnerable and advocate for more just policies. They serve as the official liaisons between their campus community and the international CRS agency.
If you would like to learn more about how to get involved, please contact Alex Weitman at dweitman@sju.edu, Gabby Dudajek at gd737764@sju.edu, or Lily Ciocca at lc730633@sju.edu.
Hawks for Life
Hawks for Life is a student organization that works to promote the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. The group hosts discussions and speakers on numerous life issues such as abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, human trafficking and more.
Contact Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J. at druff@sju.edu.
Hawks for Just Employment
Hawks for Just Employment Initiative is an SJU student organization that fosters an inclusive campus community that cares for the whole person. We seek to form relationships with workers. We advocate for the compensation of a living wage. Striving to uphold the Jesuit mission of our University, we promote respect and protection of the dignity and rights of the worker.
Contact Beth Ford McNamee at emcnamee@sju.edu.
Post-Graduate Service
Saint Joseph's University Campus Ministry hosts an annual post-graduate volunteer service fair each fall. Attend to learn about organizations that place volunteers for 1 or 2 years of full-time, post-graduate service in the U.S. and abroad. SJU Campus Ministry staff welcome you to reach out to us to talk about your discernment about the possibility of post-grad service.
The Post-Graduate Volunteer Fair will be held on Tuesday November 8th from 11:30AM-1:30PM in the Campion Banquet Halls.
Students: please register using this link (suggested but not required). A list of organizations planning to attend the fair is linked here.
For more information about post-grad volunteering:
- Contact Beth Ford McNamee in SJU Campus Ministry at emcnamee@sju.edu to be added to an email list sharing information about post-graduate volunteer service.
- Add your name and email to receive updates about post-graduate volunteer program opportunities.
- Catholic Volunteer Network
- Idealist
DACA & Students of Mixed Status Families
Campus Ministry desires to foster the spiritual development of Saint Joseph's University students regardless of their immigration status or status of their family.
As a Jesuit university we value the dignity of every person on campus. If you choose to disclose any immigration information with a Campus Minister, please know that information will remain completely confidential.
Contact Tinamarie Stolz at tstolz@sju.edu for more information.
- DACA Resources from the Office of Inclusion and Diversity
- Connect with Saint Joseph's University Immigrant and Refugee Working Group
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network: Know Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement
- Catholic Legal Immigration Network: Search for affiliates providing low-cost legal assistance
- Scholarships resources that do not require citizenship or residency