friday, october 2, 2026 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sr. Mary Arnold Walk - 8:30-9:30 a.m., BCU Campus Meet in Heffernan Mall by 8:30 a.m. Sister Mary Arnold Staudt, OSF, taught in the Department of Music and served as BCU’s organist from 1979 to 2010. She was also wellknown for scaling the Cliff each day, rain or shine! We will honor her love for walking, and our beautiful campus, by beginning this special day with a walk. We will also draw attention to the Sister Water Project, a great work of service done by the Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque.
Keynote Address - 9:30-10:30 a.m., Newman Flanagan Center Be back to the Newman Flanagan Center by 9:30 a.m. Sister Kathy Knipper, OSF, has devoted her life to education, faith, and service. She has served as an elementary teacher, educational leader, and mentor to generations of students and educators. Her ministry has included leadership with the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, service with the Diocese of Sioux City, and teaching in the Education Department at Briar Cliff University. Sister Kathy is also a current member of Briar Cliff’s Board of Trustees.
A note for students: Take time for lunch either before or after your service today.
Focusing on Joyful Service
Students choose ONE of the following activities: 1. St. Francis Center, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Craft Projects - Create cards for Holy Spirit Retirement Home residents, blankets for those in need, and simple pet toys for donation to shelters.
2. Maintenance Building, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Assist with outdoor campus cleanup as we move from summer into the fall. The maintenance building is tucked in between the Theater and BaxterDiGiovanni Hall.
3. Heelan 098, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Watch The Calling - This film ventures beyond the convent door to offer viewers a deeper understanding of the lives of religious sisters — remarkable women who selflessly dedicate their lives to God and the betterment of humanity, often facing misunderstandings along the way.
4. Meis Recital Hall, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Watch Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story - Dorothy Day was cofounder of The Catholic Worker newspaper and the first “houses of hospitality,” which sheltered New York City’s homeless during the Great Depression. The film features archival footage from Day’s own collection and interviews with actor Martin Sheen, public theologian Cornel West, Day's granddaughters and more. A note for students: Take time for lunch either before or after your service today.
Heelan Atrium - 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Nonprofit Organizations Tabling in Heelan Hall Nonprofit organizations from across Siouxland will be tabling in Heelan Hall from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Recall that each undergraduate student at Briar Cliff is required to complete 20 hours of volunteer service per academic year. Use this time to learn about service organizations in Sioux City, or schedule your club, team, or dorm floor to complete a service project together! Visit the Registration Table in the Heelan Atrium to pick up a contest card. Speak with at least five of our nonprofit guests, get a sticker from each organization on your card, and turn it in to the registration table. You will be entered to win prizes!
Heelan Hall - 1:00p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Learning about Joyful Service in Siouxland Students choose one talk at 1:00 p.m. and a second talk at 1:30 p.m. Representatives from local nonprofit service organizations will speak to us about their mission, their work, and how you can get involved. See the schedule on the next page. - Choose one talk at 1:00 p.m. Listen to their talk, ask any questions you have, and scan the QR code on the way out of the room. - Choose another talk at 1:30 p.m. Listen to their talk, ask any questions you have, and scan the QR code on the way out of the room.
Nonprofit Room Location and Times Students choose one talk at 1:00 p.m. and a second talk at 1:30 p.m.
Chapel of Our Lady of Grace - 2:30 p.m. Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
Required for CORE 105 students, optional for everyone else This year the Church celebrates the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death. Franciscans around the world commemorate the saint’s embrace of Sister Death, and passing to eternal life, in a memorial service called Transitus.