Category: Events News

Our Lady of the Lake University will host the El Segundo de Febrero Community Conference: Stories of Resilience Since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a Blessing of the Throat mass and a Blessing of the Seeds Ceremony with a dance performance by Grupo Xinatli Danza Azteca in St. Anne’s Courtyard. The program will run through Friday, February 6.

The conference marks the return of the Segundo de Febrero observance to OLLU, where the tradition originated in the late 1970s as part of campus-based social justice initiatives. The event explores the lasting cultural, linguistic, and social impact of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) through scholarly presentations, community dialogue, cultural performances, and archival exhibits.

Highlights include discussions on language and identity, panels featuring Mexican American Studies scholars, an exhibit of original Segundo de Febrero materials from the OLLU Archives, and a community mural restoration project in collaboration with local partners.

The event is open to the public and invites students, faculty, and community members to engage with this living history and its continued relevance today.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the beautiful sounds of Campanas de América at this special concert benefiting student scholarships at Our Lady of the Lake University.

This beloved annual performance has been a sold-out event in previous years, so attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Tickets are available online only and will not be sold at the door.

Proceeds from the event support the Sisters of Divine Providence Legacy Scholarship, which helps provide critical financial assistance to OLLU students. By attending, you’re not only enjoying an unforgettable musical experience—you’re also making a meaningful investment in our students and their futures.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate love, music, and the power of giving back to the OLLU community.

A Comfort In The End Art Exhibit
Featuring Visual Arts Professors:

• Professor Tori Quemada, MAE
• Professor Mark Anthony Martinez, MFA

A Comfort In The End is a two-person exhibition, featuring works that speak to the inevitability of change.

Here, Professors Tori Quemada, MAE and Mark Anthony Martinez, MFA; combine concepts from two separate bodies of work that encourage their audiences to brace for inevitable change. Changes that can come with health scares, evolving relationships, or even growth! Acknowledging that change is not necessarily a bad thing; but to recognize change as a fact of life that we must all contend with – however it arrives.

Through Quemada’s animal portraits, the photos are taken in the final days (sometimes moments) of a subject’s life. Here, moments of strength and care are captured before the ultimate passing of the beloved pet. Quemada solemnly renders in black and white, a testament of an enduring love beyond the animal’s lifetime.

Additionally, this exhibition also highlights joys of reflection and potential for evolution after a moment of crisis or grief.

This can be seen in Martinez’ “asteroid forms” wherein these forms are rendered in neon magenta. A color that, while intense, can be perceived as festive and attention grabbing – intended to root an audience in their present moment. Indeed, the forms themselves may remind an audience of a certain food item enjoyed in youth (the hint being the boot shape).

The hope of the exhibition is that we share levity behind a phenomenon so heavy as change.

The end after all is just another beginning.

The International Folk Culture Center (IFCC) at Our Lady of the Lake University is excited to welcome Xelena Gonzalez as its Spring 2026 Artist in Residence.

Xelena Gonzalez is a published author, speaker, and healing arts practitioner whose work centers on writing, movement, and embodied connection. During her residency at OLLU, Xelena will explore and experiment with movement and dance as tools for healing, using her project Lotería Remedios as a creative and cultural framework. This work serves as the foundation for an embodied movement practice that invites participants to reflect, move, and connect through shared experience.

The campus community is invited to meet Xelena and learn more about her work at a Welcome Reception and Lotería Night, where she will introduce her residency project, participate in a brief Q&A, and engage attendees through games, prizes, and light refreshments.

Xelena’s residency also kicks off an exciting season of movement, dance, and community gatherings hosted by the IFCC throughout the spring semester.

As part of this programming, the IFCC invites students, faculty, and staff to take a break, get moving, and connect during Spring Dance Demos, held in the Mall Area during community hour.

In addition to the weekly dance demos, the IFCC has a full lineup of Spring 2026 events, including:

• Bridgerton Regency Wear Workshop
• February 14 – Contra Dance
• February 14 – Bridgerton Tea & Dance
• March 7 – The Gatherings Art Workshops & Talks
• March 27–April 1 – Selena Fiesta
• April 7–10 – Spring Dance Programming

Whether you’re curious about embodied healing practices, interested in cultural dance traditions, or simply looking for a joyful way to connect with the OLLU community, the IFCC invites you to join us this spring.

For more information, contact ifcc@ollusa.edu

Our Lady of the Lake University will participate in the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration on January 19, 2026, and volunteers are still needed to join the OLLU delegation.

This year’s theme, “March to Keep the Dream in Motion,” invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to come together in unity and service.

If you have any questions, please contact cslv@ollusa.edu.

Counseling and Wellness Services invites the OLLU community to join us for an Open House and Zen Room Launch this January. Stop by to learn more about Counseling & Wellness Services, including support available through Uwill, take a tour of the new Zen Room, and learn how to book a session.

Event Details:

• Friday, January 16
• 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Walter Student Service Center, Room 206

Light refreshments will be provided, including snacks, tea, and coffee — plus swag bags while supplies last.

All students, faculty, and staff are welcome. Come take a break, recharge, and check out this new wellness resource on campus.

Stories of Resilience since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
February 2–6, 2026

OLLU’s Sueltenfuss Library and the International Folk Culture Center are proud to launch the Segundo de Febrero Community Conference, a new annual gathering focused on remembrance, resilience, and community storytelling. All are welcome to join!

OLLU is excited to host the renowned Campanas de America for a special Valentine’s Day Concert on Saturday, February 7 in Thiry Auditorium.

Guests will enjoy an evening of exceptional mariachi music from one of San Antonio’s most celebrated ensembles. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a musical celebration perfect for Valentine’s Day, community connection, and an unforgettable night on the OLLU campus. For assistance, contact geriosa@ollusa.edu.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Join us for OLLU’s oldest, ongoing tradition!
Candlelight Advent Prayer Service – 90^th Anniversary 
Friday, December 5, 2025 @6:30 p.m. 
Sacred Heart Conventual Chapel 

Dating back to 1935, Candlelight is a cherished tradition that serves as a moment to pause and reflect on the profound themes of the Advent season, a time of waiting and joyful anticipation for the coming of Christ. This magical night is not merely an event; it is an experience filled with Scripture readings that touch the heart, uplifting hymns that resonate with hope, heartfelt prayers that invoke peace, and exquisite musical performances by the talented San Antonio Choral Society, all culminating in a thoughtful reflection that invites contemplation. At its conclusion, we will walk together in unity and warmth to fill the expansive floors of the Moye rotunda, where we will joyously sing beloved Christmas carols by candlelight, bringing forth a spirit of community and shared celebration. As the evening unfolds, attendees can delight in an array of festive treats, including delicious cookies, comforting hot chocolate, and savory tamales, graciously donated by OLLU alumna, Valerie Gonzalez Handly of Delicious Tamales, adding a delightful flavor to the wonderful memories we will create together.

For more information, contact MissionAndMinistry@ollusa.edu