Embracing Diversity as a Sacred Gift

Mayfield’s student-led Campus Ministry Council set a courageous course for the year with their opening theme, “Diversity in our Gifts,” which led us to embrace the wide range of faith traditions that enrich our community. At our first Mass of the year, Fr. Rob Scholla, S.J., a longtime Mayfield friend, explained the sacredness inherent in our differences: “Each and every one of you are God’s unique word spoken only once.”

Mayfield’s first-ever interfaith Thanksgiving prayer service

We were honored to welcome Rabbi Anne Brener from the Academy for Jewish Religion California, Imam Asim Buyuksoy from the Islamic Center of Southern California and Fr. Marcos Gonzalez from St. Andrew Parish in Pasadena as our guides for Mayfield’s first-ever interfaith Thanksgiving prayer service. After student readings from the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an, our three guests reflected on our common humanity—a sentiment that was expressed so beautifully in our students’ call to prayer: “Let us honor and celebrate the diversity in our faith journeys and seek the Light and Love that is universal for all.” Amen.

Mayfield is a very special place indeed, a community in which each is precious, and honored, and loved.

— FR. ROB SCHOLLA, S.J., DIRECTOR OF THE CATHOLIC STUDIES PROGRAM, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY

The Latinas Unidas club lovingly prepared two traditional ofrendas for Día de los Muertos

We lifted our hands, voices and hearts to “Celebrate Life!” at this year’s All Saints Day Mass and Día de los Muertos remembrance, guided by Fr. Jim Bevacqua from Holy Family Glendale. Thank you to our Latinas Unidas club for lovingly preparing two traditional ofrendas to honor our community’s deceased loved ones.