SXU to Host Lenten Mission Series
This Lenten season, Saint Xavier University (SXU) will host a Lenten Mission Series each Wednesday evening beginning February 25 through March 25. Each mission will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. and feature a speaker who will address the church with a spiritually nourishing topic. The events will be held in McDonough Chapel, located on the SXU campus at 3700 W. 103rd Street, Chicago, IL 60655.
"In the Chicagoland area, we have many gifted theologians who have rich insights to share. As a gift to the community, we are inviting people to join us each Wednesday evening of Lent for a time of spiritual nourishment with our excellent speakers," said Jenny DeVivo, OblSB, Ph.D., vice president for Mission and Heritage.
The Lenten Mission Series schedule, descriptions, and speaker bios are listed below. All are welcome; the events are free of charge. For any questions, contact the Office for Mission and Heritage at 773-341-5734 or missionandheritageFREESXU.
Touching the Sacred Through Poetry
Judith Valente
February 25, 2026
Like Scripture, poems encourage us to think in imaginative and non-linear ways. They reveal truths that at first might seem hidden. As such, poems are trustworthy companions for prayer. Still, we often neglect this important resource for deepening the inner life and enhancing our prayer time. We will explore why poetry is a gift of the Spirit and to our spirit and how it can be what the ancient Celts called an anam cara, a soul friend.
Judith Valente is a former staff writer for The Wall Street Journal and an on-air correspondent for national PBS-TV. She has written six spirituality titles and three collections of poetry. Her writing focuses on helping busy people live more contemplative lives in the secular world. She is a lay associate of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kan., president emeritus of the International Thomas Merton Society, and guides the annual "Benedictine Footprints" contemplative retreat/pilgrimage to lesser-known sacred sites and parts of Italy. Her most recent book is "How to Be a Contemplative: Poems and Brief Reflections."
Prayer: Conversation with God
Joanne Kuttner, D.Min.
March 4, 2026
Prayer is entering into a conscious, loving communion with God. Since we each approach God differently, we will explore a variety of ways to pray and examine why we pray. Reflecting on our daily human experiences helps us create a space to dialogue with our beliefs, actions, and perspectives. This helps us search for the meaning of what God is doing now in our lives. We learn to open ourselves fully to the grace given to us by God and become more attentive to God's presence in our daily lives.
Joanne Kuttner, D.Min. specializes in pastoral theology and spirituality. She has been a senior lecturer in theology at Lewis University for the last 21 years. At Lewis, she has served as the program director of the Rome Study Abroad Program for five years. She applied for and received a Lilly Grant for a program called "Engaging Stories," a seven-day theology summer camp that brings together high school students from across the country. She has been the director of the program since its beginning 11 years ago. She has also served in a variety of leadership roles in her parish for over 60 years.
Lectio Divina: Praying with Our Whole Self
Teresa Calpino, Ph.D.
March 11, 2026
The presentation will provide a brief overview of the history of Lectio Divina and then lead the participants through an encounter with the practice. Lectio Divina is an ancient prayer tradition used by millions around the world to encounter God through Scripture. In the Lectio process, first God speaks, and we listen with our hearts. Then we speak, and God listens. The only requirement is to bring your openness and desire to be challenged and transformed by God's word.
Teresa Calpino holds a doctorate in New Testament and Early Christianity with a focus on women in the New Testament writings. She is currently an advanced lecturer in theology at Loyola University Chicago. Calpinso is a graduate of the spiritual direction program at the Siena Center in Racine, Wis., with a busy practice accompanying seekers on their journey through the spiritual life.
Contemplative Prayer: Being Present to the Presence
Pat Shutts
March 18, 2026
Contemplative prayer is silent prayer of just "resting in the presence of God." Sounds good, but it is not easy to quiet our minds just to be present to God, who we believe is always with us and in us and in all. We will learn about centering prayer and practice it together. Centering prayer can be an opening to contemplative prayer for those who desire to be more aware of God's constant loving presence.
Pat Shutts holds a bachelor's degree in theology and a master's degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago, along with spiritual guidance certification from Creighton University. She worked for 16 years in retreat ministry at Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wis., where she provided spiritual guidance, led prayer and meditation, and led various spiritual programs for the retreat center. For about 20 years, she worked in all kinds of formation ministries in Catholic parishes and school settings.
Creating a Personal Prayer Space
Joanne Kuttner, D.Min.
March 25, 2025
This presentation will share a variety of ideas and suggestions for creating your own prayer space in your home. Participants are encouraged to bring an item that has value in their prayer lives to show us. This Lenten Mission Series will conclude with a conversation about spirituality and nourishing our spiritual lives.