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Life and Dignity Week

Marauders athlete helping man down step

Life & Dignity Week is a celebration of the gift of life and the inherent dignity of every human person. The observation of this week by the university community includes an abundance of events spanning a variety of topics, meant to engage students and staff in an educational presentation of the unique gift of each human person.

2022 Schedule

Celebrate the richness of Native American culture. We invite the Bismarck-Mandan community to join us for this great event.

Visit the Mid-Winter Powwow page.

Schedule

  • 10 am – Monday Morning Mission (Starion Bank Living Room, Lumen Vitae University Center)
    • The Most Reverend Bishop Joseph Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago will speak on the cause for canonization of runaway slave and Servant of God, Father Augustus Tolton.
  • 10:50 am – Words from Dr. King (Starion Bank Living Room, Lumen Vitae University Center)
    • Members of University of Mary’s Black Student Union will recite excerpts from some of Dr. King’s more famous speeches.

Special All Week Event

  • “I Have a Dream” Student Art Contest (Lumen Vitae University Center)
    • Sponsored by the Black Student Union

Throughout the day, we will focus on topics concerning the dignity of the human person and seeing everything through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

Schedule

  • 9 am – Mass (McDowell Activity Center)
  • 10 am – Keynote Presentation: Rights and Dignity of the Disabled with JD Flynn (Founders Hall, Lumen Vitae University Center)
  • 11 am – Panel Discussion (Founders Hall, Lumen Vitae University Center)
  • 1 pm – Breakout Session 1
    • Disability Simulation presented by the Occupational Therapy Department (Chick's Place)
    • A Philosophical & Theological Discussion Surrounding Disabilities hosted by the Philosophy & Theology faculty (Butler Auditorium)
  • 2 pm – Breakout Session 2
    • Catholic Social Teaching on Human Sexuality with Dr. James Link (Founders Hall, Lumen Vitae University Center)
    • Women’s Rights & Gender Issues in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (Butler Auditorium)

While large numbers of University of Mary students and staff will be taking part in the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., to stand up for the lives of the unborn, those remaining on campus have the opportunity to partake in the North Dakota March for Life.

Questions

The University of Mary maintains a standing Task Force for Catholic Social Teaching, Diversity, and Inclusion, chaired by a member of the University’s Board of Regents. This task force plans and coordinates educational programming, conducts and analyzes campus climate surveys, and sponsors events in celebration of human life and dignity. The task force can be reached at diversity@umary.edu.