Campus Ministry

The Center for Social Concern in Campus Ministry is pleased to recognize Caroline Fleming, class of 2026, as the 2025 Miryam Award recipient. Caroline, a junior accounting and finance major from Cincinnati, OH, was nominated by her classmate and friend, Madeleine Noone. The Miryam Award honors those who have made significant contributions in advancing the climate for women here at UD, above and beyond their role, while reflecting the Marianist mission of the university.

When the academic year ends and schedules change, other daily rituals, such as prayer or spiritual time, may slip from mind and habit. We must remember that God is not confined to the walls of the church or a schedule, as the walls of creation are infinite.

Eid Mubarak to our UD family and friends! Eid al Adha, a celebration of obedience and submission to Allah (swt), always comes around when we’re most in need of its lessons. Through Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to fully trust in Allah’s (swt) plan, we’re called to reflect on our own submission in faith. As young Muslim college students, it can be easy to get lost in the pressures of uncertainty and stresses of succeeding. On Eid al Adha we take a moment to reconsider and regain our balance in our spiritual paths.

Eid Mubarak to our beautiful UD family! Alhamdulilah for the blessings of the sacred month of Ramadan. This past month has been filled with spiritual growth and reflection for us all. During this time, we grew closer and stronger to one another for the sake of our faith and community. May Allah (swt) be pleased with what we’ve offered and accept our fasts. With the glow of the crescent, we await the joy of Eid. How merciful is Allah (swt), after our hearts have fasted, our souls may rejoice and enjoy His (swt) sweet bounty.  Eid al Fitr means the celebration of breaking the fast. This is one of the two yearly Eid celebrations and is known as the little Eid. The celebrations begin after the sighting of the new crescent moon, indicating the end of the month of Ramadan. We spend this day in celebration with one another, for our month long of worship and spiritual reset. In the morning, we head to our mosques and pray the Eid prayer in congregation. Through this prayer we express our gratitude and excitement for the endless blessings bestowed upon us by Allah (swt), standing shoulder to shoulder, as one united Ummah. 

As a Marianist Sister, the Marianist charism influences much of what I do. A charism is a gift the Holy Spirit gives to individuals and groups of people. For Marianists, this gift is to bring Jesus Christ into the world like Mary did. Therefore, we form an alliance with Mary and become her missionaries.

When I first heard about the opportunity to journey on El Camino de Santiago, I was originally drawn to the adventure of the trip. I did not know very much about pilgrimage of any sort at that point. Through the class in the spring and over the 160 miles walked in 13 days across Spain I came to discover a deeper spirituality within myself that was life changing.

After my UDSAP summer, as I entered my senior year at UD, I truly did not know where my experiences and degree were leading me. Wanting to explore my options, I attended the Post-Grad Volunteer Fair where I was introduced to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest. JVC Northwest is guided by similar values that we held during the summer Appalachia program, values of community, social and ecological justice, spirituality and reflection, and simple living. Feeling the call to continue to live these values fully, I applied to serve with JVC NW to see where it could lead. It felt as though my year of service found me. 

El Salvador is a country with breathtaking landscapes and a vibrant culture. It's the smallest country in Central America, but it has a population of approximately 6.5 million people. Salvadorans are friendly and hospitable. They carry within them a beacon of light that serves as a sign of hope and inspiration for those seeking peace in a troubled world.

Just like Christ endured isolation and loneliness in his darkest hour, it is all too common for people who identify as neurodivergent to feel marginalized and unaccepted. We have been socially conditioned to believe that there is a “typical” way that people think, behave, and communicate, and when there is a deviation from this “norm” it is easy to dismiss, ignore, or even mistreat God’s creation.

The Center of Social Concern in Campus Ministry presented the Miryam Award to Isabella Saylor, ‘24 at a ceremony on March 21, 2024. Isabella, a senior computer engineering student from Hamilton, OH, was nominated by Dr Amy Niedhard-Doll.