Each Advent, Gesu "plants" a Christmas tree near the east altars and invites parishioners to trim this Advent Mitten Tree. The first Sunday of Advent marks the start of our annual-sharing project for the home with gifts of warmth: new mittens, caps, scarves and gloves for homeless children and adults of several shelters for Milwaukee’s homeless and victims of domestic violence. Since 2002, we have also planted a Haiti Children’s Tree, which parishioners decorate with bars of soap, toothpaste and brushes, underwear, shoes and socks, and hair clips and ribbons for the children of St. Jude, our twin parish in Haiti.

Located on the near south side of Milwaukee, this former convent is available for day and overnight retreats for parish and school staff. An accessible and affordable meeting place in the midst of the city’s urban scene, the facility puts retreatants in touch with the vibrant spiritual life of the neighborhood’s Latino community. This self-supporting renewal center and retreat house is the realized dream of Father Dave Shields, SJ and thus has decidedly Ignatian underpinnings. 

The social ministries are active year-round and open to all parishioners to join in making the social mission of the church the essential and central mission of the parish.  Examples of ministries include: parish twinning with St Jude's parish in Haiti, ongoing social justice eduation programs, and fair trade coffee sales.

Gesu Social Concerns Committee oversees a number of programs to the homeless including a regular Saturday meal program, Sunday breakfast bags. Gesu parishioners also partner with downtown congregations offering shelter and day programs to the homeless individuals and families and Gesu parishioners were instrumental in the establishment of a Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund

This area-focus of Marquette's Office of Campus Ministries addresses issues of faith and justice, including peace, hunger, and civic engagement.

Marquette's Manresa Program is discernment process aimed at cultivating graduate students who are "men and women for others" and who have a sense of their personal vocations.The program seeks to promote change at the level of the individual and the institution: to engage in transformational learning, and to help individuals ponder how to use their personal gifts and talents to help meet the world's needs.  It steeps participants in the model of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by using its methods of prayer, reflection and discernment to ask key questions: What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What will I do for Christ?

Midnight Run is a volunteer service program which began in 1988. It focuses on the particular needs of the hungry and homeless people living in the community around Marquette. This program is organized by a coordinating team of Marquette students under the supervision of Campus Ministry. Volunteers serve meals and work in area meal programs and shelters. Service in Midnight Run is meant to challenge students to integrate their experiences with their faith. Midnight Run's philosophy is rooted in the gospel, with Matthew chapter 25 serving as its hallmark. Midnight Run is based on the fundamental belief in the dignity and worth of all persons and strives to cultivate a sense of responsibility for caring for all members of our community.

For over 20 years, the campus ministry program Midnight Run has utilized voluntary direct service (primarily nutrition and meal outreach) as its primary tool to “build relationships, and walk with those who are hungry, homeless, or suffer the consequences of society's unjust structures, honoring the dignity and worth of all.” Through reflection on service Midnight Run seeks to create men and women of service and develop agents of positive social change.