Educational, Community Service,
and Interfaith Dialogue Programs
This page contains information about some of our interfaith programs, such as the Interfaith Community Service Initiative and our interfaith commemoration of 9/11 (see below for more information).
Click on the following links for information about our other ongoing programs:
Annual Freedom Seder—an uplifting multicultural and interfaith celebration of unity and liberation which we have held every year since 1999!!
Meditation Group—a weekly nondenominational meditation group which is open to all students (and faculty and staff) regardless of experience or beliefs.
"Festival of Light" Holiday Posters—a colorful poster series that brings greater awareness to the tremendous diversity of religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions in our community.
Interfaith Community Service Project
in partnership with Habitat for Humanity
September 2011 through April 2012
UMass Amherst
As part of a national initiative sponsored by the White House (“The President’s Interfaith Community Service Campus Challenge”), the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is partnering with our campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity and an array of religious and other groups to create opportunities for UMass students to engage in meaningful community service with people from diverse religious backgrounds and beliefs. This year-long effort will promote interfaith understanding and cooperation on campus and provide opportunities for meaningful service learning, while helping low-income families in the Amherst area.
Want to know more?
To learn more about this national initiative (including a video of President Obama introducing the project), click here.
Want to get involved?
Our spring interfaith "builds" will be held on Feb 12, March 11, and April 22. If you're a UMass student, staff or faculty member and would like to participate in our interfaith Habitat building project or other activities, please contact either of these organizations:
Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (Larry Goldbaum)
UMass Habitat for Humanity (Molly Flynn, president)
UMass Interfaith Alliance
If you're interested in connecting (in fun ways) with students from diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds, check out the UMass Interfaith Alliance on Facebook. The Interfaith Alliance was created by students who had participated in our interfaith Habitat builds and wanted more opportunities to socialize with a religiously diverse group of students. Join them!!
We remembered the 10th anniversary of 9/11...
and vow to build a better future together
Interfaith Commemoration of 9/11
Friday, September 9 at 12:00pm
Student Union Building, UMass Amherst
This unified commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 provided an opportunity for students and religious leaders from many traditions to come together as one community, to share our commitment to building a common future characterized by mutual understanding, compassion, and respect. Representatives of the Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, Baha'i, and Buddhist traditions offered words of healing and hope. Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Religious Affairs Committee, and the Muslim Students Association.
Ringing of the Chapel Bells
Sunday, September 11
UMass Amherst
The bells of the Old Chapel tolled at 8:46am, 9:03am, 9:45am, and 10:10am to commemorate the times at which hijacked airplanes were flown into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center and the west wing of the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, PA, after passengers tried to regain control of the aircraft, on September 11, 2001.
9/11 National Moment of Remembrance
Sunday, September 11 at 1:00pm
The U.S. Congress and the President have designated September 11th as a national day of remembrance of all those whose lives were changed by the events of 9/11/01. This year, the Town of Amherst called upon all residents of Amherst to observe a moment of silence at 1:00pm (Eastern time) on Sunday 9/11/11.
Read the full Resolution from the Town of Amherst
