Creighton community members gathered to hear a panel discussion on love, friendship and joy at the conclusion of the fall 2025 Mission Week.  

The event began at 7 p.m. on Sept. 4 in the Reinert Alumni Auditorium of the Mike and Josie Harper Center.  

As opposed to the regular Mission Week keynote speaker address, this year’s Mission Week coordinators opted for a conversational panel discussion including recent Creighton graduate Cassidy Nipp, Creighton Associate Vice Provost for Integrated Wellness Michele Bogard, Ph.D., and the Revs. Larry Gillick, S.J., and Greg Carlson, S.J. The discussion was aimed at exploring the panelists’ experiences of finding love, joy and community at Creighton.  

The panel started with a question by Nipp, where she asked Gillick and Carlson to reflect on their long history together at Creighton. Carlson notably said that even after many years of friendship he continues to learn things from Gillick regarding spirituality. Carlson referenced a sermon that Gillick had preached earlier that morning.  

“I had prayed that gospel in Luke about Jesus inviting Peter many times in my life. I had never seen it in that light, and that’s what keeps happening for me with Larry ever since we showed up on 19th in California Street,” Carlson said.  

Carlson then turned the floor over to Nipp, inviting her to share an experience that shaped her at Creighton. Nipp told the story of her friendship with the Rev. Jeff Sullivan, S.J., which started her freshman year when she approached him in a moment of sadness.  

“From that day on, Father Sullivan started to meet with me and [go] on walks with me … we ended up eating hot dogs together at Costco and building this beautiful relationship.” Nipp said. “[It] all started from immense vulnerability.”  

Shortly after, Bogard shared a complimentary sentiment about being on the receiving end of vulnerability. She stressed the importance of “those moments where we just accompany one another when we don’t know what’s happening next and we are Christ for one another.” 

Bogard then connected this idea to the mission of Ignatian spirituality, stating that Ignatian values such as that one have shaped her as a person.   

“It [has] nurtured my soul as a human and it makes me a better mom, kid, daughter, sibling, coworker, colleague [and] hopefully friend,” Bogard said.  

Finally, Gillick and Nipp shared related messages on finding joy.  

“Joy seems to come when we let go of the heaviness of expectations,” Gillick said, regarding gratefulness and approaching situations as God presents them. 

Nipp expanded on this idea with a reference to something Gillick had said to her in the past. 

“He always tells me and always says to others that we need to let life create us,” Nipp said. “He talked about this openness to let life go through you, to let the people you meet shape you, to let the people you meet teach you lessons and show you parts of themselves that then become parts of you.” 

The discussion concluded with a short question and answer portion, which prompted messages from the panelists to freshmen, encouraging them to be open to new experiences and to embrace their newfound community at Creighton.  

Following the discussion, all attendees were invited to share snacks at a small reception.