Traditions

The CCVI* Spirit Award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration or staff who has demonstrated outstanding service to the University or the broader civic community in the spirit of the founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.

The CCVI Spirit Award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration or staff who has demonstrated service to the University and the broader civic community in the spirit of the founding Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The mission of the University flows directly from this spirit.

One award is given each year. All members of the campus community, lay and religious, part-time and full-time, are eligible. Selection of the honoree is made by a committee of faculty, administrators and persons chosen for the award in past years.

In celebration of Incarnate Word Day, held annually on the Feast of the Annunciation, the honoree is presented with an attractive piece of sculpture signifying the award. At the end of the award year, the sculpture is passed on to the next nominee. The University also donates $500 to the Congregation ministry of the awardee's choice. The nominee's name is placed on a permanent plaque displayed in the Columkille Administration Building.

Faculty, administration, staff and students are invited to submit one or more nominations. Nominations made in previous years for persons who were not selected will be reconsidered each year. If in any year the Selection Committee determines that no suitable candidate has been proposed, the award will not be given out that year.

^{*CCVI is an acronym for Congregatio Sororum Caritatis a Verbo Incarnato, the Latin name for the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who sponsor the University.}                 

Each year we gather as a community on September 11 at 12 p.m. in Our Lady's Chapel to remember the tragic events of that date in 2001. Prayers will be said for our nation, for the families of those that passed, for our UIW First Responders and to renew our commitment to be bearers of peace and justice to the world.

Each year we honor all our military men and women who have willingly served and sacrificed for our freedoms and our country. UIW community members are invited to submit names and/or photos of family and friends who have served in the military. They will be included in a video display to be shown at the annual UIW Veterans Day Ceremony.

Military and Veteran Center

Submit Name and/or Photo for Honor Wall Display

Dia de los Muertos is a day to celebrate and remember those who have passed before us. The University holds an All Souls' Day Mass at the Our Lady's Chapel. A memorial altar is displayed to honor our lost loved ones.

Each year, the University sets aside a week for special celebrations of the Mission. Incarnate Word Week falls in March during the week of the Feast of the Annunciation which is the major feast of the Congregation of Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as well as the University.

Incarnate Word Day celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation, Mary's "Yes" to God's call. At the Annunciation, an angel sent by God brought the message to Mary that God was asking her to be the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God. When Mary accepted God's offer, the Word (God) became one of us. God became "incarnate," with a body like ours; hence the name Incarnate Word. Because of His resurrection, the Incarnate Word continues to dwell among us.

The program for the week varies. A special liturgy is always part of the week as is the awarding of the CCVI Spirit Award to a member of the faculty, staff or administration. The CCVI Spirit Award was inaugurated in 1993 to recognize a member of the faculty, administration, or staff who has demonstrated service to the University and/or the broader civic community, in the spirit of the founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The Mission of the University flows directly from this spirit.

The Sisters' Story: Our UIW Story

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word founded this University and gave it the Mission of service to others.

In 1869, San Antonio suffered a cholera outbreak. In response to San Antonio's need for assistance, the Catholic Bishop of Texas, Claude M. Dubuis, sent a plea to France. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, suffering in the persons of a multitude of the sick and infermed of every kind, seeks relief at your hands..." As a result of this request, three French nuns, Sister Madeleine Chollet, Sister Pierre Cinquin and Sister Agnes Buisson crossed the Atlantic and made their way by carriage to San Antonio. They established San Antonio's first infirmary which today is known as Christus Santa Rosa Hospital.

The establishment of the infirmary led to another critical need, an orphanage, which in turn led to the establishment of a school. Taking care of children led them to open elementary and high schools, first in San Antonio and other cities in Texas, then in Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri and eventually in Mexico. In recent years, they established schools, hospitals, and other service centers in Peru and Zambia.

The Road to Founding a University

To train teachers for the schools and nurses for the Santa Rosa Hospital, the Sisters added advanced courses to the curriculum of the College and Academy of Incarnate Word. In 1881 the Sisters obtained a charter to operate schools and to confer baccalaureate degrees, and in 1957 a Board of Trustees was formed to govern Incarnate Word College, which in 1996 was recognized as a University.

The Mission

The Sisters and all who have joined them in their schools, hospitals and the University carry out God's work recognizing everyone served the presence of God dwelling among us - the Word made incarnate.

Click here to learn more about the University Mission and Ministry.

UIW holds weekly and special occasion masses at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, St. Joseph's Chapel and Our Lady's Chapel.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

The entire University of the Incarnate Word community of faculty, students, administrators and staff celebrates the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the fall semester. Our purpose is to prayerfully invoke the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon our efforts as we begin each new academic year. This tradition has its origins in the great Catholic universities of Europe dating back to medieval times. In this, we recognize the need for divine assistance and confidently call upon the Lord to send us the spirit of wisdom to infuse our educational work with the fire of love. “Come, Holy Spirit, renew the face of the earth!”

Welcome Mass

UIW welcomes new and returning students to the new school year by inviting students and their families to the first Mass of the academic school year at Our Lady's Chapel. The Welcome Mass is held the Sunday before the fall semester begins.

Baccalaureate Mass

The Baccalaureate Mass occurs the day before the Graduation Commencement Ceremony. For more information, visit the Baccalaureate Mass web page.

If you have any additional questions about the Baccalaureate Mass, please contact Campus Ministry at ministry@uiwtx.edu or (210) 829-3128.

Hispanic Heritage Month Mass

During the month of September, the UIW community celebrates Hispanic heritage. To begin the celebration, UIW holds a mass in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Taizé Prayer Services at UIW

Taizé prayer services are held at UIW for anyone who wishes to participate in Our Lady's Chapel, located on the first floor of the Columkille Administration Building.

History of Taizé

During World War II, a young Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche offered shelter and hospitality within the small village of Taizé, France to refugees fleeing the war-torn area. This simple act of kindness led to the founding of the ecumenical, monastic community known as "Taizé." The Taizé Community's primary vocation has long been known to be a bridge for communion among all peoples, with its specific focus on reconciliation - not only among divided Christians, but more importantly, among humanity - reflecting God's presence and love among the poor and most vulnerable, the dying, the imprisoned, the spirituality and emotionally wounded.

Today, thousands of pilgrims (most especially young adults) come from all over the world to experience and participate in the contemplative prayer of Taizé, which includes the singing of repetitive scriptural chants, silence and reflections. Through this manner of prayer, communal gathering and dialogue, pilgrims are invited to a deeper communion with God and to be a leaven of peace and reconciliation for the world.