SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- Seton Hall University will proudly host the next Sport at the Service of Humanity (SSH) Conference in South Orange, N.J., from November 4-6, 2026. The conference, developed in consultation with the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education (formerly the Pontifical Council for Culture), is designed to advance the meaningful work of the Sport at the Service of Humanity initiative that focuses on three pillars: Inspiration, Inclusion and Involvement. The theme of Seton Hall’s conference will be “Communication, Collaboration, Community: Sport at the Service of Humanity.”
Inspired by the late Pope Francis, Sport at the Service of Humanity was launched in October 2016 during the First Global Conference on Faith and Sport at the Vatican. The gathering brought together thought leaders and influencers from the worlds of faith, sports, business and other sectors to discuss how faith and sport could work together to bring people together, improve lives and inspire positive social change. Since then, SSH has become the only global sport and multi-faith movement with a vision of a world where people “live like they play” — combining the passion for sport with the values of faith to create healthy and peaceful communities.
The Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference at Seton Hall will be the sixth hosted in the United States and the fifth hosted by a BIG EAST Conference school, with previous iterations held at Villanova University (2017), Loyola Marymount University (2018), Georgetown University (2019), Marquette University (2023), and Creighton University (2024).
“The influence of sports on society has never been greater,” said Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., president of Seton Hall. “For athletics to provide maximum benefits to humanity, we must ensure their administration, participation and impact reflect positive, faith-based life-affirming values. Seton Hall is pleased to host this year’s SSH Conference, which will advance the excellent work done in prior years and lend our unique perspective to issues of sports, faith and business.”
“Sport has the unique capacity to unite communities, lift spirits, and call forth the best in each of us,” said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark. “I am grateful that Seton Hall is embracing this vision by hosting a gathering that reflects the Church’s broader mission: to integrate faith and athletics in ways that promote human dignity, compassion, and hope.”
The Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference at Seton Hall will be an invitation-only gathering bringing together leaders in athletics, media, education, faith communities and youth sports to harness the power and visibility of sport to effect positive change in the world. The event will feature speakers, panels and breakout groups focused on developing innovative ways to highlight and strengthen the intersection of faith and sports in and beyond educational contexts. Details regarding the conference, including speakers and the program, will be included as part of the invitation to attend.
“Sport at the Service of Humanity is thrilled to be working with Seton Hall University in bringing this event together,” said SSH Board Director and CEO/Executive Director Philip Leopold. “The goals of Inclusion, Involvement and Inspiration epitomize the potential for both sport and faith to serve people who are disadvantaged and excluded in so many different ways. Sport at the Service of Humanity aims to grow awareness of these goals through discussion, as well as action, among all those who share that desire to make a difference — whatever their faith, whatever their sport. Seton Hall has a wonderful vision for this Conference, and I think the outcomes will be uniquely impactful.”
In preparation for Seton Hall’s conference, BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman recently participated in the SSH Sport for Good roundtable workshop, held on October 16, 2025, in Vatican City. A cross-section of sports executives, non-profit leaders, government officials and athletes met to discuss and explore the beneficial impact of sport on society and to encourage sports programs that foster human, educational and spiritual growth. Players Coalition (PC) and Sport for Impact co-hosted the event on October 16, and PC co-founder Anquan Boldin, 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, also participated in the workshop.
“His Holiness Pope Leo believes that sport, especially when it authentically captures the Christian spirit, is a powerful tool to foster human, educational and spiritual growth,” noted Bishop Paul Tighe of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education. “I am delighted with this initiative coming from Seton Hall, and applaud both the University’s and Cardinal’s commitment to the promotion of sport as an endeavor that enriches the lives of all people.”
The BIG EAST Conference
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.
Seton Hall University
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been inspiring great minds to greater purpose since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous majors, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, US News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and caring global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, only 14 miles to New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. A new independent economic analysis of the University found that Seton Hall provides a significant impact on New Jersey's economy, totaling over $1.6 billion annually and creating and sustaining nearly 10,000 jobs. The University’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark. The University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, New Jersey, houses Seton Hall’s College of Nursing, its School of Health and Medical Sciences as well as the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Our outstanding faculty and values-centered curricula prepare students to grow into well-rounded professionals who lead with purpose by engaging the mind, heart and spirit. For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
Sport at the Service of Humanity
Sport at the Service of Humanity was launched by His Holiness Pope Francis during the 2016 Global Conference on Faith and Sport at the Vatican. Sport at the Service of Humanity is the only global faith and sport movement that combines the passion of sport with the values and power of faith to serve humanity. “Live Like We Play” embodies the movement’s ethos – rooted in Pope Francis’ inspirational words — “Challenge yourself in the game of life, as you do in the game of sport.” Sport for Humanity’s beliefs and aspirations are founded on three pillars — inspiration, inclusion and involvement — and six principles — compassion, love, respect, enlightenment, balance and joy.