AJCU Mission Officers
Chief Mission Officers Conference 2024
Welcome! Creighton University is thrilled to host the gathering for Chief Mission Officers and Companions in Mission across our AJCU network.
Wednesday, October 16 - Friday, October 18
We will start at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and will finish at lunch on Friday.
We also will host an optional session Wednesday morning for first-time mission officers.
Conference Registration
Please complete the online registration to reserve your spot and pay the $350 registration fee. The fee includes conference materials, meals from Wednesday dinner through Friday lunch, and transportation between hotel and campus. Travel and lodging accommodations will be covered individually.
Register Here
Check-In Table and Conference Meeting Room
The Check-In table will be located outside of the Fitzgerald Board Room on the 4th floor of the Harper Center.
Nearly all of the conference meeting time will occur in the Fitzgerald Board Room on the 4th floor of the Harper Center. (The street address for the Harper Center is 602 N. 20th Street, Omaha, NE 68178)
More information
AJCU MISSION OFFICERS ANNUAL MEETING
Creating a Hope-Filled Future: Fostering Faith, Justice and Reconciliation
October 16 - 18, 2024
All meetings will take place in the Fitzgerald Board Room, Harper Center, unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | ||
Pre-Conference | ||
| 8:30am - 10:30am | Joint Commission of AJCU/JCCU | Harper 2046, 2nd Floor of Harper Center (Breakfast included) |
| 10:00am - 3:30pm | Registration | Outside of the Fitzgerald Board Room, 4th Floor of Harper Center |
| 11:00am - 2:00pm | Orientation for New Chief Mission Officers and Retooling for Returning Chief Mission Officers (Optional) | Harper 2046, 2nd Floor of Harper Center (Lunch included) |
Conference | ||
| 3:00pm | Welcome & Introductions Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, PhD and Cindy Schmersal, EdD Opening Prayer John Sebastian, PhD Building Bonds Among Mission Colleagues Clara Dwyer | |
| 4:00pm | Where am I challenged to find hope in my ministry? Where do I encounter evidence of hope in my ministry? Table Discussions and Plenary Sharing Dan Cosacchi, PhD | |
| 5:15pm | Break | |
| 5:30pm | Cocktail Social | With Jesuits serving at Creighton University 4th floor, School of Dentistry |
| 6:30pm | Dinner | With Jesuits serving at Creighton University 4th floor, School of Dentistry |
Thursday, October 17, 2024 | ||
| 8:00am | Mass Presider: Marc Reeves, SJ | Faber Chapel, 2nd Floor, Harper Center |
| 8:45am | Breakfast by Province | |
| 9:45am | "Grace Under Pressure: Advancing Our Mission in Times of Financial Stress and Socio-political Division" Bernardin Fellow of Church Leadership at Catholic Theological Union and former President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and universities. | |
| 11:00 am | Break | |
| 11:15 am | Talk Respondents, Q&A, and Table Discussions Respondents: Salvador D. Aceves, EdD, Mary Chase, EdD | |
| 12:30pm | Lunch with ICP alumni/ae | |
| 1:30pm | Practical Strategies for Creating Reconciling Campuses in a Time of Division: What We Know So Far Panel and Table Discussion Facilitator: Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, PhD Panelists: Milton Bravo, PhD, Ellen Maccarone, PhD, Michele Murray, PhD | |
| 2:45pm | Break | |
| 3:00pm | Workshop on Trustee and Senior Leadership Formation: Sharing effective Practices and Resource Needs
Facilitator: Stephanie Russell, EdD Contributors: Mike Garanzini, SJ, Mike Graham, SJ and Joe DeFeo, PhD | |
| 4:30pm | Business Meeting and Network Planning Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos, PhD and Stephanie Russell, EdD | |
| 5:30pm | Examen Kari Kloos, PhD | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner Outing | Location is Gather In Omaha, in the Old Market District |
Friday, October 18, 2024 | ||
| 7:45am | Morning Prayer | |
| 8:15am | Breakfast | |
| 9:00am | Assembly Commission Follow-up: The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm - Responding to Students and Their Hungers Ed Peck, PhD and Commission Members | |
| 10:15am | Break | |
| 10:15am | Assembly Commission Follow-up: Student Spiritual Growth and Mental Health Speakers Luke Lavin, PhD and Jennifer Abe, PhD | |
| 11:45am | Closing Comments: Reflections by Colleagues on the Fruits of the Meeting and Articulating Next Steps Rev. Charles Oduke and David Suwalsky, SJ | |
| 12:30pm | Lunch and Departure | |
The conference room block at the Hilton Omaha has closed. Those seeking accommodations are invited to make a traditional reservation at the Hilton Omaha. Shuttles will be provided for transportation to and from campus based on the conference schedule.
Wednesday, October 16
- 2 PM, 2:15 PM, 2:30 PM: Shuttle will depart from Hilton Omaha to bring attendees to campus for the 3 PM conference start; drop-off at the Harper Center
- (Note: If you are attending the “Joint Commission” that starts at 8:30 AM or the "Orientation for New Mission Officers and Retooling for Veterans" session that starts at 11:00 AM, you will need to provide your own transport to campus)
- 7:30 PM, 7:45 PM, 8 PM, 8:15 PM: After dinner, a shuttle will depart from the School of Dentistry to bring attendees to the Hilton Omaha
Thursday, October 17
- 7:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM: Shuttle will depart from the Hilton Omaha to bring attendees to campus; drop-off Harper Center
- 5:45 PM: Shuttle will begin bringing all attendees from the Harper Center to Gather in Omaha in Omaha’s Old Market for cocktail hour and dinner.
- 8:15 PM – 8:45 PM: Shuttle will loop between the restaurant, the Hilton, and the Jerome Nadal Jesuit Residence
Friday, October 18
- 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:00 AM: Shuttle will depart from the Hilton Omaha to bring attendees to campus; drop-off at Harper Center
An on-campus golf cart is available on a limited basis for those navigating mobility limitations.
Lyft and Uber are readily available for transit outside of these arrangements.
Hilton Omaha is a 20-minute walk from Creighton’s campus.
Gather in Omaha is a 15-minute walk from Hilton Omaha.
Street Addresses of All Locations
- Hilton Omaha: 1001 Cass St.
- Creighton Campus drop-off/pick-up Harper Center: 602 N. 20th St.
- School of Dentistry (Wednesday evening Dinner): 2109 Cuming St.
- St. John’s Church (Thursday morning Mass): 2500 California Plaza
- Gather in Omaha - (Thursday evening Dinner): 1108 Howard St.
