The University of Detroit Mercy community gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 10, for the annual Celebrate Spirit! event, officially marking the beginning of the academic year. CHASS is co-celebrant for this year-long event. Our College’s students shared their poetry and read prayers of the faithful translated into languages from Arabic to Chinese. Dean Jocelyn Boryczka delivered an introduction to the theme of radical hospitality, the central practice in CHASS which animates our belief that diversity is our strength. She also called the community to certain actions, including an invitation to paint a rock for the Radical Hospitality rock garden located outside of Briggs, wear their radical hospitality wristbands, and collaborate in creating the College’s gift, the glass mosaic being developed by a local Detroit artist.
Held in the Student Fitness Center, the event included the Mass of the Holy Spirit, celebrated by Fr. Charles Oduke, Vice President for Mission Integration, with a moving homily delivered by guest speaker Marilyn Lacey, RSM.
This year’s theme, Radical Hospitality, centered around the core values of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Society of Jesus. Lacey’s homily focused on the three pillars of radical hospitality: remembering, welcoming, and belonging. She encouraged attendees to reflect on their role in building a community that fosters inclusion and connection, emphasizing that we all belong to a global community where hospitality starts within ourselves.
Following the Mass, students, faculty, and staff received wristbands reflecting the three pillars and gathered in the Fountain Lounge of the Student Union for a complimentary lunch, where the spirit of community and fellowship continued. Attendees dressed in red, orange, or yellow, reflecting the vibrant atmosphere of the celebration.
The event was hosted by University Ministry, Mission Integration, and the College for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and once again served as a joyful and reflective way to begin the new school year