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About JFAN Detroit

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CONTACT

John Grant, Chair
Grant@emteegee.org

Tom Szczepanski, Chair
Tom.Sz.Det@gmail.com

Frank Brady, Chair WUJA Congress
fjbradyjr@gmail.com

Fr. Gary Wright, SJ, Jesuit Liaison
wrightgr@udmercy.edu

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Upcoming Events

Tenets of Ignatian Spirituality:
How Students, Faculty and Staff Are formed in the Ignatian Tradition to Carry Forward UDM’s Jesuit Mission Throughout Life

Featured Speaker:
Fr. Simon Hendry, SJ
Director of Catholic Studies
University of Detroit Mercy

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
11:30 a.m.

University of Detroit Mercy
Student Union Ballroom
4001 West McNichols Road
Detroit, Michigan

Fr. Simon Hendry, SJ, Director of Catholic Studies at UDM and former Superior of the Detroit Jesuit community, will provide an overview of Ignatian Spirituality and how the university works to ensure that Ignatian values animate faculty research, teaching, mentoring and service opportunities for students. His talk will be complemented by an in-round, moderated discussion with students, faculty and staff who will speak to how they are educated to understand and practice key Jesuit values such as cura personalis – care for the whole person - magis – the greater good - and service of faith and promotion of justice. A Q&A among attendees will follow.

Program Details:
11:30 a.m. – Doors open (check-in and registration)
12:00 p.m. – Lunch begins
12:15 p.m. – Program begins 

Speaker Bio
Fr. Simon (Si) Hendry, SJ, teaches courses in Catholicism, Catholic Church history and spirituality. His research interests include spirituality and social justice. Hendry served as Superior of the Jesuit Community at Detroit Mercy from 2010 to 2016 and has held leadership positions in the Spirituality section of the Catholic Theological Society of America. His Ph.D. dissertation was titled Ruined for Life: The Spirituality of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and he received his doctorate in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, focusing on spirituality and sociology. Before coming to Detroit Mercy in 2007, Hendry directed the Jesuit Center at Loyola University of New Orleans. He is a moderator of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society. He is a co-author of Using Principles of Catholic Social Thought to Evaluate Business Activities, Journal of Catholic Social Thought, 10.1, Winter 2013, 155-177.

Registration is required. Please RSVP below by February 5, 2026.

Past Events

Transforming Business: Ignatian Values at the Heart & Soul of Success

On Wednesday, November 6, 2025, Fr. Nicholas Santos, SJ, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Heider College of Business at Creighton University, shared how Ignatian values can transform leadership and redefine success in both business and life. Drawing on his global experience and Jesuit formation, Fr. Santos explored the Jesuit paradigm for business education and emphasized themes of purpose-driven leadership, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. He encouraged attendees to lead with heart and soul, creating success that uplifts both their organizations and the broader community.

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, Fr. Jake Martin, SJ joined Jesuit friends and alumni in Detroit for an evening of comedy fused with Ignatian spirituality. Fr.Mark Luedtke, SJ, was the co-host of the event held at Detroit Shipping Company.

"What is a Jesuit Brother Anyway?"

On March 26, 2025, Br. James J. Boynton, SJ, president of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, spoke about the role of Jesuit brothers in the Church today. Since the founding of the Society of Jesus, brothers have played a vital role, but their contributions are often less understood. Br. Boynton shared his insights on their vocation, mission, and impact, offering attendees a deeper appreciation for their work within the Jesuit community and beyond. Watch the event video below.

Advancing Care for our Common Home in Jesuit Universities

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Dr. Nancy C. Tuchman, PhD, Founding Dean of the School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago, gave a JFAN talk discussing how Pope Francis and the Society of Jesus are calling us to action to protect our shared planet and how Jesuit universities across the country are leading the way. This talk explored Loyola University Chicago’s sustainability successes as a case study and shared what each of us can do to advance the cause. View Gesu Church and School’s environmental accomplishments here. Watch the event video below.

Finding God in All Things (...sometimes through the eyes of others)

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Tom Szczepanski, executive officer of Angel’s Place, gave a JFAN talk about how sometimes it takes the eyes of others to open your own. Watch the event video below.

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, Fr. Patrick Kelly, SJ, PhD, current associate professor of Religious Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy, gave a JFAN talk entitled “Sport, Human Flourishing and the Common Good: Opportunities and Challenges Today.” Watch the full video below