Office of the Chaplain
The Chaplain is the administrative officer of the University responsible to the Provost for the oversight and coordination of religious activities on the campus. The Chaplain supports the academic mission of the University by facilitating and encouraging initiatives concerned with the moral, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of university life.
Our work falls under three broad headings:
Chaplains to the University Community
Our staff is available to students, faculty and staff for pastoral support, guidance, or informal advising and counseling. The Chaplain, an ordained clergy person, participates in campus ceremonies such as Convocation, Baccalaureate and Commencement and also officiates at weddings and campus memorial services.
At the Heart of Religious Life
Our Office serves and supports a wide range of student organizations, fellowships and religious communities on our campus. We also develop programming designed to improve interfaith understanding and build meaningful, collaborative relationships across religious difference.
Committed to Service
The Office of the Chaplain also maintains a range of service programming in partnership with faith and community based organizations across the city of Philadelphia.
SPARC – The Spiritual & Religious Life Center
In the Summer of 2014 we moved our offices to a new location in 240 Houston Hall. The new space offers us additional meeting and hangout space and allowed us to create a new student center – SPARC – a home on campus for religious and spiritual students and groups.
SPARC provides space for regular prayer, scripture study and meditation sessions for individuals and groups. Spaces can be reserved or used on a drop in basis. There is always space set aside for meditation and prayer (including daily Muslim prayer space) and students can always drop in to hangout, study or take a nap. And our Chaplains are always nearby to offer support or space to talk.
Links:
History of the Office of the Chaplain