SXU Holds Inaugural Week of Service
Saint Xavier University (SXU) will hold an inaugural Week of Service March 21 to March 25, 2022. Faculty, staff and students will participate in service initiatives tied closely to the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, with opportunities to provide support at the University and external organizations, including Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, Port Ministries, Ronald McDonald House, Mosque Foundation Food Pantry, Arab-American Family Services, Greater Chicago Food Depository and La Rabida Children's Hospital.
"Service calls us to use our gifts, talents, and abilities to advance the genuine well-being of our community and those we encounter. Our hope as a committee is that the community will not only engage in service during this important week, but that the spirit of service and hospitality be woven into their characters so that they may go out into the world and continue to do good every week," said Josh Bogaski-Baugh, executive director of Student Success.
A committee of diverse faculty, staff and students came together to plan the event, which ties to the University's annual Mission Day and We Are SXU Day, giving the community a chance to not only celebrate the mission and heritage of the University and Sisters of Mercy, but also work diligently to better the community.
"We Are SXU Day and Mission Day celebrate and honor Saint Xavier's mission and the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. Service is one of Saint Xavier's core vaues, so we could think of no better week and day to offer opportunities for the community to collectively join in service that allows them to use their gifts to serve the common good with compassion," said Bogaski-Baugh.
The committee is made up of individuals who have a stake in bettering SXU and the external community and who bring diverse perspectives to the group and are all passionate about various areas of service and servant leadership. They believe engaging in service helps to enliven the University's academic and cocurricular programs and that students who participate will gain experience valued by employers and develop transferrable skills. Many events hosted throughout this week will help students further develop competencies including career and self-development, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, and teamwork.
The committee looks forward to Week of Service becoming an annual event.
"Service is embedded in all that we do at Saint Xavier. We are blessed with a community of individuals who all have a stake in bettering our campus and the wider world through servant leadership. This event is an opportunity for them to live out our mission. I am grateful for the students, faculty and staff who are working together to make our inaugural Week of Service a transformative event, and I look forward to celebrating their success," said President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D.