Spring Hill College Graduate Programs in Theology & Ministry

Registrations for Summer Classes are open!

https://springhill.catalog.instructure.com/browse/sics

This is the SICS website where you can also find the non-credit registration forms, class description, and other information.

SICS website: https://www.shc.edu/academics/sics/

Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality - www.shc.edu Program Overview Every summer Spring Hill College, Graduate Programs in Theology & Ministry welcomes students and people from throughout the community for two weeks of classes and fellowship. This is an opportunity for graduate students to earn credit outside of the traditional semester as well as p...

Registrations are now open for classes in our Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality 2025!

Open to all! For Audit classes and course descriptions, click here: https://springhill.catalog.instructure.com/browse/sics
Classes Offered In-person and Online
Session I: June 2-6, and Session II: June 9-13
Ignatian Directed Retreats: June 13-21; 3, 5, or 8 Day Retreat

For more information visit our SICS website: https://www.shc.edu/academics/sics/

Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality - www.shc.edu Program Overview Every summer Spring Hill College, Graduate Programs in Theology & Ministry welcomes students and people from throughout the community for two weeks of classes and fellowship. This is an opportunity for graduate students to earn credit outside of the traditional semester as well as p...

Save the date. Registration for the Ignatian Retreat will open soon!

Save the date! Registrations for summer classes will open soon.

Don't miss tomorrow's Jesuit Heritage Lecture. It is open to the public.

Memorial Eucharist for the Rev. Dr. John B. Switzer, OnSB.
St. Pierre’s Episcopal Church
, Satuy, January 18, 2025.

Save the date for our next Jesuit Heritage Lecture given by Dr. Stephen Wilson.
It is open to the public, Thursday January 30 at 7PM (CT), Byrne Memorial Hall, Spring Hill College.

Rev. John Switzer, Ph.D.
In Memoriam (July 17, 1960 – December 27, 2024)
God has made all of his children unique, but John Switzer was perhaps more unique than most. Anyone who knew John can attest to his passion, faith, intellect, charm, good humor, odd political beliefs, and a love for everyone he came into contact with. But John’s special ability to make each person feel as if they are the most important one he had ever met is a very rare quality. I would ask him how he was, and his reply would be, “Better for having seen you!” Said like he meant it, because he did.

I first began working at Spring Hill College in November 2002, and my memory is that John was already serving as an adjunct professor for the Theology Department at that time. He might have come later than that. The College Bulletin shows his dates teaching as 2006 until 2021 when he retired as an Emeritus Professor and went on to his next career serving as rector of St. Pierre’s Episcopal parish in Gautier, Mississippi. The people at St. Pierre’s found good fortune with this placement by the diocese.

During his time at Spring Hill College, John taught theology courses on Vatican II, Church History, Religion & Culture, Intro to Christian Theology, and many graduate courses, often involving interreligious studies and taught during the Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality. John was passionate on the subjects of ecumenism and dialogue between religions. John also spent several years as the Director of Graduate Theology at Spring Hill.

John was a loving husband to his wife, Patsy. John loved good food and drink, and time spent with friends and loved ones, and the many pets he and Patsy had through the years. I think I make a pretty darn good Manhattan; John made one that was better. I try to do my best to treat everyone as Christ might; John did that much better. John Switzer was a man to emulate in so many ways, and he will be greatly missed.

Stu Moore
Spring Hill College Registrar
January 7, 2025

A thoughtful note from Dr. Matthew Bagot, who had the privilege to work with John.
"John was a beloved professor who served as an integral part of Spring Hill College's theology department for many years, and we will miss his theological insight, his pedagogy, and, not least, his humor dearly."
The funeral will take place at Saint Pierre's Episcopal Church, on January 18th at 11:AM (CT); 4412 Gautier Vancleave Rd, Gautier, MS 39553

With deep and profound sadness we share the passing of Dr. John Switzer. He entered eternal life on December 27. John taught theology for more than 15 years at SHC. He will certainly be missed. We pray for the repose of his soul, his wife Patsy, family, and friends.