Santa Clara University transforms Campus Ministry into Center for Spirituality and Faith

Santa Clara University announced on Oct. 3, 2026 that its Campus Ministry had been reorganized as the Center for Spirituality and Faith, a move intended to expand spiritual outreach and practice radical hospitality across the campus community.

The change matters because half of the university’s students identify with non‑Catholic faiths or no religion at all, and the new name seeks to invite every student to explore spirituality without the perception of a Christian bias.

“Campus Ministry previously could feel ‘accessible to a certain segment of the student body,’ whereas this new name is one we hope will invite all,” said Kathleen Quiazon ’99, director of the Center for Spirituality and Faith.

Jesuit priest Andrew Laguna, director of Catholic Life, echoed the sentiment, noting that “the Center for Spirituality and Faith is very descriptive of who we are.” He emphasized that the center will keep Catholic traditions such as Spanish‑language masses and mosaic dinners while adding programs that address “big human questions” about AI, career ambitions, and personal spirituality.

New staff members, including administrative associate Daniel Martinez ’24, are tasked with translating ideas into action. Martinez described the center’s daily life as a space for “Thai tea, coffee and donuts every Wednesday morning” and QR‑code surveys that collect student feedback on programming.

Partnerships with the Multicultural Center, the Jewish Student Union, the Sikh Student Association, and various Christian groups illustrate the center’s commitment to interfaith dialogue. Events such as meals in front of the Mission Church on Saturdays aim to create informal spaces for conversation.

The Center will continue to host Spanish‑language liturgies, interfaith mosaic dinners, and weekly surveys, while also launching new initiatives focused on student leadership and co‑creation. Fr. Laguna summed up the direction: “We believe in co‑creation.” The next public event, a campus‑wide meditation night, is scheduled for early November, offering a first look at how the Center plans to blend tradition with broader spiritual engagement.