Center for Spirituality (Campus Ministry)

Julie Billiart Hall 110
Open M - F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Amy Jobin
Director of Spirituality
(650) 508-3761
ajobin@ndnu.edu

Fr. Greg McGivern
Chaplain
(650) 508-3715
gmcgivern@ndnu.edu

Mission Statement

Guided by the spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame, the Center for Spirituality and Mission seeks to honor the many religious traditions and spiritual paths in our community by providing diverse opportunities for tending the sacredness in ourselves, each other, and the world and work and learn collaboratively with community partners to bring about a more just society and positive social change. We are a community of students, staff, and faculty who work together to support this vision.

Services, Programs and Opportunity for Involvement

  • Confidential Spiritual Direction.
  • Weekly liturgy in the chapel as well as interfaith and other community prayer services.
  • Various speakers, films, and programs addressing issues related to spirituality and mission.
  • Retreats, “away days” and volunteer experiences to help us understand what it means to live our faith.
  • Casual counseling, conversation, hot tea, and a comfy, quiet get-away on campus.

Offerings for Fall 2011-Spring 2012

  • Student on retreat with drawingLiturgies:
    Masses are at 7 pm on Sundays in the Chapel (next to the gym). We welcome student participation in all aspects of the liturgy. Students are invited to help plan liturgies and to serve as a Eucharistic Minister, lector, greeter, or member of the music ministry team.
  • Sacraments: Have you received some but not all of the sacraments? Have you thought about receiving the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation? The Center for Spirituality will be offering a series of four sessions and a day of retreat to current students during the spring semester who would like to prepare to receive Sacraments they have not yet received. A Mass will take place on Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m. where students will receive the Sacraments; family, friends and the larger community are invited to come and celebrate with us. If you have already received the Sacraments and would like to somehow be involved, please let us know- we will need some students to be sponsors. To register or for more information, contact Amy Jobin at ajobin@ndnu.edu
  • Retreats:
    • Busy Person’s Retreat, on campus, Feb. 13-16, 2012
  • Away Days:
    • Spring 2012, Date TBA, Excursion to Sacramento to see the exhibit Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisters In America at the CA Museum of History, Sacramento, CA.
  • Two female studentsVolunteering/Service:
    • Alternative Spring Break, Apopka, FL, March 4-10, 2012
      Hope Community Center in Apopka, FL will be the site of the Center for Spirituality Alternative Spring Break 2012 experience. Hope Community Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is a center that serves migrants and refugees in the Apopka, FL area. As part of the program, we will work with farm workers in the mornings and will meet with community leaders and organizations in the afternoons to learn about justice and advocacy for migrants and refugees. NDNU students will present a college access workshop for local high school students about applying for college, seeking out scholarships and how to let your family know that you’ve decided to attend college one of the nights we are there. We will leave for FL on the morning of Sunday, March 4 and will return by the evening of Saturday, March 10. We will engage in spiritual reflection during this trip and consider how our ND Hallmarks inform work for peace and justice on our planet. Students must submit proof of health insurance to be able to attend. Cost to students: $150. Deadline for application: January 20, 2012. Email Amy Jobin at ajobin@ndnu.edu if you have questions or to submit the registration form.
      *You can receive academic credit for this experience by taking REL 2425, Liberation Theologies, TR 12:25-1:50pm, taught by Fr. Ken Hamilton.
    • Gardening at the Catholic Worker House Garden in Half Moon Bay, Saturday, April 15, 2012, 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
  • Catholic Scholar Lecture Series Speakers:
    • Sr. Mary Johnson, SNDdeN, speaking on “Anticipating the Future: Trends in the U.S. Catholic Church,” speaking Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 pm in the Chapel.
  • Students on retreatGroups:
    • Young Christian Students
      This group meets weekly for Faith Sharing, Bible Study and Praise and Worship. This group is facilitated by students, for students, with students leading prayer, singing, music, reflection on scripture, and sharing about life in the context of the Christian Faith. If you would like to get involved, please contact Janali Savarimuthu at jsavarimuthu@student.ndnu.edu or Cinthya Vieyra at cvieyra@student.ndnu.edu
  • Individual Spiritual Direction:
    Individual Spiritual Direction is offered by the Center for Spirituality. This is a practice of sitting with another and making time and space in one’s life to talk about one’s life story, discerning how God is working in one’s life and/or where and how one is being called. Some people come for spiritual direction regularly on a monthly basis and others come for a shorter period of time if they have had a major change happen in their life or the life of a loved one, an important decision to make, or simply need a listening ear and safe space to share their story. Please contact Amy Jobin in the Center for Spirituality if you are interested in receiving spiritual direction at ajobin@ndnu.edu or call X3167.
    • Sister Julie Billiart
    Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
  • Student Spirituality Team
    There is a team of 6-8 students that works with the Director of Spirituality to help understand the spiritual needs of NDNU students and to assist in creating opportunities for the student community to engage in liturgy and prayer, social justice, spiritual growth programs, and foster a deeper understanding of the Notre Dame Hallmarks. Students on the team are asked to serve for a minimum of one year and to have a desire to grow spiritually in their own life. The Student Spirituality Team is an ecumenical team, meaning that persons of all faith and spiritual traditions are invited to apply to become a part of the team.

*All opportunities are open to all students. Students of all spiritual, religious and cultural backgrounds are welcome.

Staff

Amy Jobin, Director of Spirituality. Amy is a native of Illinois. Amy recently completed her studies at the Franciscan School of Theology at Berkeley. Amy has a strong interest and love for working with young adults/college students. Amy enjoys hiking in beautiful California, visiting developing countries, and is always up for a good movie.

Fr. Gregory McGivern, Chaplain. Fr. Greg was born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Dromore in Northern Ireland in1985.  He has degrees in both Theology and Counseling Psychology and is currently the chaplain and head of the counseling department at Mercy High School in San Francisco.

Fr. Greg is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. He has a special interest in the interface of psychology and spirituality. As part of his three-year training in the Art and Practice of Spiritual Direction at Mercy Center (Burlingame, CA), he sees directees for spiritual direction.

As Chaplain at Notre Dame De Namur University, Fr. Greg envisions himself as part of a team offering the best pastoral support and spiritual guidance to everyone on campus. He will be available for pastoral counseling, spiritual direction and the sacrament of reconciliation as well as for a casual friendly chat. Outside of his pastoral and counseling work, Fr. Greg enjoys hiking and travel.