Distinguished by the diversity of its members, the University of Rochester welcomes people of various faiths from around the world. The Interfaith Chapel is the center at the University that works to support the expression of this mixture of heritages and groups.
Chapel Administrator
- Eileen Bruton
- Interim Administrator
Interfaith Chapel and
Community Service Programs
(585) 275-4321
The Director of the Chapel works with chaplains, religious advisors and staff in creating and articulating the vision of the Interfaith Chapel within the university and greater Rochester Community. She provides leadership by developing multi-faith initiatives and programs, building an integrated religious life at the university, and creating pastoral care opportunities. In her dual role as Director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, she helps develop a blended set of programs in the institute and the Chapel that apply conflict resolution principles and that promote respect, inclusion and cooperation among the world's people and faith traditions.
University Chaplains
Working closely with the Administrator are a group of university chaplains. The university has a long-standing covenant with four faith communities in particular and has established chaplaincies with these communities on campus. University Chaplains and Associate Chaplains are persons recognized by the university, and endorsed by their covenanting communities to minister on a full or part-time basis within the University.
As a group, the chaplains understand that college is a time when students may want to explore and challenge their faith traditions. Such exploration is welcome and chaplains stand ready to help students and others work through new ideas and beliefs, and confront different value systems. This open world view is a trademark of the work of the chaplains who work in this interfaith dwelling. Our welcome to people is hospitality-based rather than obligatory. It is a place where questioning and exploration are welcome; where spirituality and faith are celebrated.
Covenanting Communities
- Fr. Brian C. Cool
- Catholic Newman Community
Catholic Newman Community
Named after John Henry Cardinal Newman, this is the Roman Catholic Faith Community at the University of Rochester. The Newman Community is a community that believes that God is present in each one of us, and that we deepen our relations with God and one another when we pray together, and when we are of service and support to one another.
- Judy Abelman, Executive Director
- Hillel of Rochester Area Colleges
Rabbi Debbi Till, Chaplain
Hillel
Hillel functions as an integrated part of student life at the University. We bring the richness and diversity of Judaism to the college world. Hillel belongs to you, the students, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Reconstructionist. We provide the opportunity to experience, explore, and express your identity.
- Rashid Muhammad, Muslim Chaplain
Muslim Community
The Muslim Community works in conjunction with the Muslim Student Association to run a number of programs and services, including Islamic-Awareness Week. Students use the Meditation Room for daily prayers. Prayer rugs are available.
- Rev. Dr. Laurie Tiberi
- Protestant Chapel Community
Protestant Chapel Communities
PCC is a gathering of Christians from many church backgrounds, working together to serve God in the University and beyond. We are an open and welcoming community, which comes together to celebrate Christ's presence and to accept his challenge to go out into the world as a healing force. We are sponsored by 5 mainline Protestant denominations and supported by many local congregations, alumni, parents and friends.
UR Christian Fellowship
The UR Christian Fellowship offers opportunities to practice faith with people of richly divers faiths, backgrounds, and styles, all sharing a common journey in an African-American Spirit filled tradition.
Interfaith Fellows
Working with the Director, Administrator, Chaplains and Religious Roundtable are the Interfaith Fellows Tamara Slater and Kyle Odell. They help develop programs for students and university groups.
Contact: chapelinterns@yahoo.com
Student Led Groups
Along with the chaplains of the four covenanting communities, the Chapel houses the activities of, and works closely with, a number of distinct student led faith groups. Those groups working closely with the Director, Administrator and under the Chapel umbrella include:
- Hindu Students
- Hindu Student Association meets every Sunday in Havens Lounge from 7:00PM - 8:00PM. Trips to the Hindu Temple of Rochester are planned every month. People of all faiths are welcome.
- Contact: Dev Master, '08
- Sikh Students
- Contact: TBA
- Religious Round Table
- Comprised of University students, this multi-faith group sponsors programs on and about religious diversity on campus. Again this year, they will be performing their popular and very powerful program called: Encountering the Spiritual: A Celebration of Religious Diversity.
- Contact: Zainab Alwan, Interfaith Fellows
Other programs and contacts:
- Armenian Church of Rochester, Very Rev. Kegham Zakarian, (585) 621-6941
- Buddhist Drikung Kagyu Enlightenment Institute, (Charles Peterson (585) 454-3844)
- The Zen Center, (Sevan Ross (585) 473-9180)
- Christian Science, Doris Cox, (585) 586-7879
- Eastern Orthodox, Fr. George Savas, (585)244-1976
- ISI (International Students Inc.), Len and Mary Rosenberg, (585) 377-8048
- Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, TBA
- Korean (Korean UMCH), TBA
- Mormon , Cary Jenson, (585) 275-8928
- Rochester Friends Meeting (Quakers), (585) 325-7260
- Unitarian Universalism
- Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Paul Tankel, (585) 275-0936