University of San Diego Magazine 75th Anniversary 2024

LEADING WITH LOVE

Perfect Pure All Faith Service Celebrates Spiritual Diversity

Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak

“L eading with Love” was the theme of the 31st All Faith Service, which during the past three decades has become a beloved tradition and a powerful example of the university living its mission, vision and values. The phrase “Leading with Love” was borrowed from the university’s vision statement that reads: Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. “At its most profound, the word love is not about preference, affection, friend ship or romantic connection,” said Vice President for Mission Integration Michael Lovette Colyer. “Instead, the highest form of love is agape, an ancient Greek word best translated as pure and perfect self-gift. This kind of love is anything but trivial — it is profoundly challenging, calling us to go beyond ourselves and those like us, in order to find substantial,

The inaugural All Faith Service was held in The Immaculata on Friday, Jan. 28, 1994. Under the guidance of then-Reverend Monsignor Brent Eagen, vice president for Mission and Ministry, the service was designed to usher in the spring semester, similar to how the Mass of the

concrete ways of giving our lives away. This kind of love is how multiple religious traditions understand and refer to God.” The event featured presentations from numerous faith traditions including an indigenous prayer by Stanley Rodriguez, EdD; a Jewish prayer by Danielle Botvin; a Hindu mantra and dance presented by Debjani Chakraborty, Neelu Bhardwaj and Narender Kumar; a Buddhist meditation by Venerable Miaozang; a Christian reflection by Sister Maria Dela Paz, OSF; a Muslim prayer by Taha Hassane; and a closing song by Ken Anderson and the USD Gospel Choir.

Holy Spirit begins the fall semester.

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