News Release
University of Detroit Mercy Celebrate Spirit!
Each year, University of Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and students gather in Gesu Church for the annual "Celebrate Spirit!" event. This longstanding tradition is a symbol of the beginning of the new academic year for students, faculty and staff and will include a worship service for all faiths, a picnic lunch and a student organization fair.
LOCATION CHANGE: The Celebrate Spirit! service will now take place in Gesu Church, on Oak Drive, one block north of McNichols Campus.
See Gesu information.
The picnic and student organization fair following the service will still take place in the Fisher Fountain area on McNichols Campus.
This festive event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on UDM's McNichols Campus. "Celebrate Spirit!" gathers the entire University community together to rededicate everyone to UDM's mission, to renew friendships, and to welcome new friends. The yearly event is part of a religious tradition that dates back to the great European universities in the Middle Ages who celebrated the new school year.
The festivities include a worship service led by Rev. Gary Wright, S.J., for all faiths in Gesu Church, which serves as the official welcome to the new school year. There will also be a picnic lunch and student organization fair on the McNichols Campus around the Fisher Fountain to introduce students to the many student activities they can be involved in.
Guest speaker Faye Nelson, President and CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and University alumnus (‘75, ‘80) will help the celebration focus on our education “in an urban context.” She has been involved in the restoration of the Detroit Riverfront and can help the university community better use our resources to address the needs of our larger community, Detroit, and to participate in its redesign and renewal.
This event is free and open to the entire University of Detroit Mercy community. All are encouraged to attend and receive inspiration as we recommit ourselves to living the UDM Mission in the city of Detroit.
http://www.udmercy.edu/celebrate-spirit/
Release date: September 20, 2010
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