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News and Programs 5.13.21
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Multifaith Baccalaureate Ceremony for the Class of 2021
Friday, May 14, 2021, 4:30-5:00 p.m. EST, Broadcast at commencement.emory.edu
Each year, we look forward to celebrating graduating seniors and sending them into the world with blessings in the Multifaith Baccalaureate Ceremony. This year, Emory seniors, chaplains, faculty, staff, and affiliates collaborated to create an online Multifaith Baccalaureate for the Class of 2021 that will be broadcast through Emory communications channels on Friday, May 14, 2021.
Baccalaureate is an Emory Commencement tradition that formally celebrates the academic and personal journeys of the graduating senior class and sends the class into the world with music, prayers, inspiring reflections, and blessings.
The program will feature the following:
- Greetings by the President, Deans, Faculty, Staff, and Affiliates
- Prayers and meditations by members of the Class of 2021
- Special music by OSRL Music Director Mr. Maury Allums and the Voices of Inner Strength Gospel Choir
- Reflections by Jessica Dam, Ariela Farchi, Jaqui Fine, Hayat Geresu, Josh Millin, Ebony Samuel, Himani Shetti, Jesse Steinman, and Agastya Vaidya.
To view the Multifaith Baccalaureate for the Class of 2021, please check the Emory Commencement website here.
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Congratulations Class of 2021!
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From the Emory Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, your presence has been a joy and a gift and we hope you will stay in touch with us. May you go forth into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold on tight to that which is good, and may those to whom love is a stranger, find in you a very good friend. May you be blessed and be a blessing today and always. Congratulations Class of 2021.
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WISE Interfaith Pre-Orientation Promotional (Video Recording)
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Registration Now Open: WISE Interfaith Pre-Orientation Program
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Emory University Spiritual and Religious Life is excited to announce that registration is now open for Emory Atlanta campus entering first-year students to sign up for our new interfaith pre-orientation program. Please share with any first years coming to Emory's Atlanta campus this Fall 2021.
Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration (WISE) is s four-day interfaith experience designed to ease first year students' transition to college while also providing an opportunity to explore Atlanta, build religious and philosophical literacy and interfaith leadership skills, and connect with new friends as you settle into your new home at Emory. We welcome first-year students from diverse religious, non-religious, spiritual, and philosophical identities.
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Celebrating Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
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On Thursday, May 6, Emory President Gregory Fenves sponsored and visited a Ramadan iftar meal with the Emory Muslim Students Association (MSA). Emory MSA hosted twice-weekly iftars throughout Ramadan and were delighted to greet and get to know President Fenves.
We hope all celebrating had a meaningful Ramadan, and we wish everyone Happy Eid al-Fitr. One of the two major Islamic festivals (the other being Eid al-Adha), today celebrates the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer honoring the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. Due to COVID19, a modest Eid al-Fitr reception will be celebrated on Friday, May 14 after Jumu'ah prayer.
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A Guide to Celebrating Shavuot from Rabbi Jordan Braunig, Emory Jewish Chaplain
A few hours after Emory’s commencement this Sunday, the holiday of Shavuot will begin. For many grads there will be meals and celebrations with family and roommates and friends. The joy of the day will inevitably become the joy of the night. Though the Talmud instructs us, ein m’arvin simcha b’simcha/don’t mix one joy with another, after a year of living in a pandemic, it feels like the more gladness and merriment, the better. So, how might you bring a little low-key Shavuot into your celebrations? To read the guide, please click here.
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Circle of Community: Restoring Emory's living mandala (Article)
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The living mandala at Emory, a vibrant round garden in front of Cannon Chapel, was planted in 2012 to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s relationship to Emory.
But it had become overgrown. A renovation for the mandala was needed — and symbolic.
“The living mandala invites us to focus our attention on the universe and the goal of creating lives and a community that embrace wholeness,” said the Rev. Greg McGonigle, university chaplain and dean of religious life.
“We think that it’s a perfect metaphor and spiritual practice for this time, when we need to reconnect with each other, and being outdoors is the safest way to reconnect and rebuild our community.”
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Hindu Puja Cabinet Refresh and Intercollegiate Dalit Human Rights Program
Hindu Community Puja Cabinet Gets a New Look
Hindu Chaplain Brahmacharini Shweta Chaitanya along with student leaders recently redecorated the Hindu Puja cabinet in Cannon Chapel. Many thanks to all who contributed.
Dalit Human Rights: Interconnected Narratives of Activism and Spirituality (Video Recording)
This virtual conversation focused on three key aspects that are essential for uplifting the voices of Dalit people themselves: spirituality, advocacy, and economics. View the video recording here. This event was hosted by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and co-sponsored by Georgetown University Dharmic Life, Georgetown University Women's Center, Princeton University Hindu Life Program, Yale University Hindu Life Program, Tufts Hindu Chaplaincy, New York University Hindu Center, and Emory University Hindu Chaplaincy.
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Community Gathering For Healing and Hope: Responding to a Year with COVID-19 (Video Recording)
After a year of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, political divisiveness, and ongoing racial injustice and violence, the Emory community gathered together on Friday, April 30 to give voice to our experiences and feelings, to acknowledge the losses and the grief of the past year, to honor the sacrifices of unseen heroes, and to bring a sense of initial closure to this time when so many have been away from campus. Through music, reflections, prayer and meditation, we marked the passing of this time and sought collective healing and hope for the future. View the recording above.
Sponsored by the Emory University Counseling and Psychological Services, Faculty Staff Assistance Program, and Office of Spiritual and Religious Life.
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Emory Buddha Day Celebration 2021 (Video Recording)
On Thursday, May 6, the Emory community came together online to celebrate Buddha Day, commemorating the birth of the Buddha and Buddhist values such as nonviolence, compassion, and interdependence. The program included meditation, chanting, Dhamma talks, and student reflections. View the video recording above.
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Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month
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May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions Jewish Americans have made to the U.S. since they first arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.
Jewish American Heritage Month had its origins in 1980 when Congress requested the President to issue a proclamation designating a week in April or May as Jewish Heritage Week.
On April 20, 2006, President George W. Bush declared that May would be Jewish American Heritage Month, after resolutions passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. The Library of Congress offers resources about Jews in the United States
To celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, please click here for resources at the Woodruff Library.
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Candler Foundry Course: Asian and Asian American Feminist Theologies
Professor Kwok Pui Lan
5 Weeks: Tuesdays, May 18, 25; June 1, 8, 15, 2021
Time: 8:00-9:30 p.m. EDT
Format: Online through Zoom
Registration Deadline: Monday, May 17, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EDT
Register: https://candlerfoundry.emory.edu/courses; Click here to apply for financial aid.
This course introduces the development and issues in Asian and Asian American feminist theologies from a transnational perspective. It will focus on the emergence of feminist theologies, biblical studies on gender and class, Christian ethics and sexuality, interreligious learning and solidarity, and leadership and ministry. The course will identify commonalities and differences between Asian and Asian American feminist approaches in order to build better understanding and solidarity. Participants will gain new insights in doing theology and ministry in Asian and Asian American churches and communities. Each session will include a speaker from Asia and another from the United States. Sponsored by the Candler Foundry.
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Upcoming Religious Holidays and Festivals
These events are drawn from the multifaith calendar maintained by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at Harvard Divinity School. To see more upcoming religious holidays and festivals, please click here.
Ramadan
Monday, 4.12 – Wednesday, 5.12.2021
Tradition: Islam
The Holy Month of Ramadan is the month of fasting during which Muslims who are physically able do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset in honor of the first revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. The evening meal is celebrated with family.
Eid al-Fitr ('Id al-Fitr)
Wednesday, 5.12 – Thursday, 5.13.2021
Tradition: Islam
Also known as the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. One of the two main Islamic festivals (the other is Eid al-Adha), this day celebrates the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It comes on the first day of the next lunar month, Shawal.
Ascension of Jesus
Thursday, 5.13.2021
Tradition: Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic
The celebration of Jesus' ascension into heaven and enthronement as universal sovereign. It comes 40 days after Easter. The date observed by Protestants and Roman Catholics is often different from the date observed by Orthodox Christians.
Shavuot
Sunday, 5.16 – Tuesday, 5.18.2021
Tradition: Judaism
(Or "Feast of Weeks.") Shavuot marks the conclusion of the seven weeks following Pesach (Passover). It is a celebration of the harvest of first fruits and commemorates the giving of the Torah and Commandments at Mount Sinai. Begins at sundown.
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We welcome your support for the mission and programs of the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. Thank you for your prayers and generosity.
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Emory OSRL Enews is published weekly during term by the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life covering Atlanta-campus programs. For Oxford College spiritual life, please click here. To submit information or to update your preferences, please contact religiouslife@emory.edu.
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