University of Mary to Host National Vocations Jamboree; Bishop Andrew Cozzens to Receive Prestigious Christus Servus Cross
Three-day gathering draws religious communities and missionaries from across the country as Church leaders call young people to courageous discipleship
BISMARCK, N.D. — The University of Mary will once again become a crossroads of discernment and missionary zeal when it hosts its annual Vocations Jamboree March 17–19, welcoming religious communities, missionary organizations, students, and clergy from across the nation for three days of prayer, fellowship, and encounter.
At the heart of this year’s gathering will be Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, who will deliver the keynote address and receive the university’s prestigious Christus Servus Cross during a special ceremony on Wednesday evening, March 18, in the Lumen Vitae University Center’s Founders Hall.
The Vocations Jamboree has become a signature event for the University of Mary, offering students and visitors the opportunity to meet members of religious orders, missionary movements, and service organizations representing a wide range of charisms within the Church. Through liturgies, personal conversations, shared meals, and formal presentations, participants are invited to explore how God may be calling them to serve.
The three-day event opens Tuesday, March 17, with Sung Vespers and Mass at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the popular “Mission Minutes Late Show” at 7 p.m., where religious communities introduce their apostolates and missions.
On Wednesday, March 18, the university will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m., followed by the Vocations Expo from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch available. Sung Vespers will be held at 4:30 p.m., and the Expo will continue from 5 to 7 p.m., with dinner available for attendees.
The highlight of the Jamboree will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the Christus Servus Cross ceremony and keynote address by Bishop Cozzens.
The Christus Servus Cross — “Christ the Servant” — is reserved for “those selfless shepherds who demonstrate the charity of Christ, kneeling before His brothers, who shine forth in courageous leadership, through humble and tireless service, for love of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the people of God.” Past recipients include Bishop Austin Vetter (2024), Archbishop Samuel Aquila (2023), Bishop Thomas Olmsted (2022), Bishop John Folda (2019), and Bishop David Kagan (2017).
Bishop Cozzens, a graduate of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, first served as a missionary to young people with NET Ministries and Saint Paul’s Outreach before entering seminary. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 1997, he later earned a doctorate in sacramental theology in Rome, focusing on Saint John Paul II’s theology of the priest as Bridegroom of the Church. His book, “A Living Image of the Bridegroom: The Priesthood and the Evangelical Counsels,” was published in 2020.
After eight years in seminary formation, Cozzens was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2013. He was installed as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Crookston on Dec. 6, 2021.
Nationally recognized for his leadership, Bishop Cozzens was entrusted by the U.S. bishops to lead the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, launched in 2022 to renew belief in and devotion to the Eucharist and to foster missionary conversion across the Church in the United States. As part of that effort, he founded and serves as the first president of the National Eucharistic Congress Corporation and oversaw the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July 2024 — the first such gathering in nearly 50 years — drawing more than 60,000 Catholics for worship and mission.
A Full and Faithful Schedule
Throughout the Jamboree, students will have opportunities for one-on-one conversations with priests, sisters, brothers, and missionaries — encounters that often become pivotal moments in a young person’s vocational journey.
Adding to the national scope of this year’s event, “The Drew Mariani Show” will broadcast live from the lower level of the Lumen Vitae University Center on Wednesday, March 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., bringing the spirit of the Jamboree to a nationwide radio audience.
The Vocations Jamboree reflects the university’s dedication to supporting men and women discerning religious life. This commitment is evident in dedicated residence communities for students in discernment and in a vibrant sacramental life on campus that fosters growth in faith, character, and holiness—including multiple opportunities for daily Mass, 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration, and a thriving University Ministry program.
Held annually, the Vocations Jamboree reflects the University of Mary’s Catholic and Benedictine mission to form servant leaders and to foster a culture where students are encouraged to listen attentively to God’s call — whether to priesthood, religious life, marriage, or dedicated service in the world.
Visit 2026 Vocations Jamboree for more information or to register.