Mission Week to be permanently moved to last week of September

Marquette's Mission Week, an annual event to study, listen, discuss and pray to become better informed and transformed human beings at Marquette University, will move permanently from its usual time in early February to the last week in September, the university announced today.

The new timing coincides with the anniversary of the Society of Jesus' founding on Sept. 27, 1540, and Family Weekend. The change will begin for the 2026-27 academic year, with Mission Week running from Sept. 27 through Oct. 2.

"We are very excited for this new era of Mission Week," said Rev. Jim Pribek, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry. "The relationship to the Jesuits' founding helps to deepen the university community's connection to St. Ignatius and allows us to carry the Mission Week theme throughout the academic year."

"Mission Week is an important time at Marquette University, one that grounds the entire campus community in our rich Catholic, Jesuit tradition and values," President Kimo Ah Yun said. "I appreciate Father Pribek and the Mission and Ministry team for taking such a thoughtful approach to how we can better honor St. Ignatius and the Jesuits and maximize yearlong opportunities to celebrate our mission, which is at the core of all that we do at Marquette."

In addition to celebrating Mission Week in concert with the Jesuits' founding, the new timing gives students, faculty and staff a mission-based theme on which to focus for the entire academic year, negating the need for an annual Ignatian Theme and creating a more unified approach.

"Mission Week has always been about bringing the whole campus together around a central, heartwarming theme," says Brigid Kinsella-Alba, assistant director of mission engagement. "This change also gives new students and faculty an immediate understanding of what mission is at Marquette and will light a spiritual fire across campus that will warm us all year long."

The 2026-27 Mission Week theme will be announced this July to give faculty time to incorporate the theme into their syllabi and account for attendance at various Mission Week events. Mission Week programming will also undergo changes, including new events and speakers.

Any faculty or staff members who would like to be on Mission Week planning committees or have ideas about events or themes is encouraged to email Brigid Kinsella-Alba.

Watch Marquette Today for updates.