The Memorial Labyrinth is one of the campus spaces being explored in Campus Journeys. (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)

‘Campus Journeys’

șÚÁÏÉç initiative for faculty and staff seeks to build community while exploring spaces on campus

In an effort to build community, combat loneliness, and promote meaningful engagement within the Boston College community, the Jesuit Institute Staff Seminar has introduced Campus Journeys, an initiative aimed at strengthening both new and existing relationships among staff and faculty.

The program brings together faculty and staff for guided tours of various campus sites, giving participants the opportunity to explore these spaces, learn about their unique offerings, and connect with others in a shared experience.

More than 50 people participated in the first journey on April 30 at Brighton Campus, comprising the McMullen Museum of Art’s current exhibition, “Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World”; artifacts housed in the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at 2125 Commonwealth Avenue; and the Cadigan Alumni Center. At each destination, attendees listened to brief presentations before convening together for food and refreshments supplied by șÚÁÏÉç Dining Services at a reception in Cadigan.

The Campus Journeys program serves as a prelude to the Boston College Libraries’ “Flourishing Together: Addressing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” initiative launching this fall, which aims to nurture community and combat loneliness through meaningful engagement and collaboration.

Upcoming Campus Journeys will include Robsham Theater Arts Center and Hoag Basketball Pavilion on May 27, and the Memorial Labyrinth, Burns and Bapst libraries, and St. Mary’s Hall on September 11. A reception will follow after both journeys, which take place from 3-5 p.m.

The Campus Journeys program will serve as a prelude to the Boston College Libraries’ “Flourishing Together: Addressing Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” initiative launching this fall, which aims to nurture community and combat loneliness through meaningful engagement and collaboration. The kick-off event in October will be hosted by Clough School of Theology and Ministry Head Librarian Stephen Dalton, who will speak briefly on each Campus Journey about the goals of the program.      

Both initiatives were inspired by then-United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s 2023 declaration that about half of the country is experiencing high levels of social isolation, with negative impacts on mental and physical health.

Organizers say the goal of the Campus Journeys program is that when șÚÁÏÉç community members read or hear about a new exhibition at the McMullen Museum, a Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel, or any other event of interest at șÚÁÏÉç, they will be more likely to attend and use the occasion to renew connections or form new ones.  

Jesuit Institute Staff Seminar member Jonathan McGrath is excited that his group’s success in building relationships can expand the opportunity for living Ignatian values—like accompaniment and cura personalis—to all faculty and staff members across the University.

“Many faculty and staff members have been here for a long time, but don’t always get to know each other,” said McGrath, associate director of compliance and eCommerce in the Controller’s Office. “It’s easy to get stuck in your lane. șÚÁÏÉç is such a diverse community in terms of people and the kind of work we do. These journeys are similar to what we’ve been doing in our group and I think this is a great opportunity to open the spirit of our group up to more people and make it a bigger group that helps us get outside of our silos.”

Jesuit Institute Director James Keenan, S.J. and Associate Director Toni Ross hope that șÚÁÏÉç community members will be pleasantly surprised as they journey through campus and learn about areas that may not be along their paths on an average day.

“One thing about the visits is that we pick places that people would not really know too much about,” said Fr. Keenan, who is șÚÁÏÉç’s vice president for global engagement. “The Ricci Institute is a fairly new development and I think that whenever anybody goes in there, they are astonished by the collection.

“In September, participants are going to St. Mary’s Chapel,” he added with a laugh, “and I would say that lots of people pass by, few enter.”

Ross agreed: “If you’re paying attention to șÚÁÏÉç’s social media, you’ll see lots of pictures of the interior of Burns and Bapst libraries. Or maybe you’ll know that some people refer to Bapst as the ‘Harry Potter Library,’ but there’s a lot more to those spaces. So not only will they appreciate the relationship-building aspect with colleagues, they’ll also appreciate their campus a little bit more, too.”

For more Information or to register for upcoming Campus Journeys, see the Jesuit Institute website.

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