This year, Kamilah Jones, T24 served as the OSRL Candler School of Theology Chaplain Intern. Kamilah had the opportunity to write prayers and litanies for Beloved Community worship, preach her first (and second) sermons ever, provide pastoral care, participate in interfaith events, field trips and holy day celebrations, and learn about chaplaincy in higher education.

We want to thank Kamilah for her dedication to learning, her eagerness to have new experiences, and for the positive energy she brought to OSRL's programs this year. We are grateful for your work, Kamilah, and we wish you the best in your final year of seminary. 

Hello, I am Jaeun Koo, T25, an MDiv Candidate at the Candler School of Theology. Having been born and raised in South Korea, I am experiencing my first American school life as a Candler student; I am also the first member of my family to come to America. In this new world, I am enjoying a life full of adventures; this allows me to reflect on my life journey, and my life journey assists me in digesting my new experiences. Most importantly, I am experiencing God's love through the hospitality many people have extended to me here. With the delight, happiness, and hospitality I have enjoyed, I hope to share God's love with you.

My faith has grown thanks to uncertainties and questions. As I faced many hardships, I asked myself how I should live, where Christian communities should go, and what the world should be like. At times, I lost my way and became depressed that there was no definitive answer; however, I found God's everlasting guidance through university members who kept pondering with me. It is my hope that I will be helpful to all of you in asking and engaging in any questions you may have about yourself, Christianity, and the world. We will experience how this world deserves to be lived in delight under God's guidance and the Christian community in an interfaith context.

I feel greatly blessed to serve as a Chaplain Intern in the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life next year. I look forward to seeing diverse images of God in each of your faces.

The Emory Muslim Service Award was established in 1999 by the Emory Muslim Alumni affinity group, with original gifts in honor of Dr. Haider Shamsi, who was a dedicated servant of the American Muslim community and an advocate for Islam and education. The Emory Muslim Service Award is an annual recognition open to students of all Emory schools who have demonstrated outstanding service to the community, exemplifying the Islamic value of community service.

The Emory Muslim Service Award for 2023 is presented to Layla Dhabaan for her leadership and service work through many organizations, including as the founder of Uplifting Marginalized Mothers and Individuals (UMMI), an organization dedicated to assisting marginalized mothers, including mothers who are incarcerated or refugees. Related to this work, she has also volunteered with Embrace Refugee Birth, Refugee Women’s Network and the Shifa Clinic (a clinic for immigrants and refugees without health insurance), by offering translation services, transportation to medical appointments and errands, and administrative support. Through Project Downtown, she engaged in meal packaging for food insecure families and support for Rohingya refugees; she connected with the Masjid Al-Momineen in Clarkston, Georgia, and encouraged fellow college students to offer mentoring, tutoring, and ESL classes; and through ICNA Relief, she has worked to start a pop-up clinic and food pantry. She also serves as a volunteer EMT and a volunteer Doula. For all of this leadership in service--to immigrants, refugees, incarcerated persons, and mothers—Layla is honored with this award. 

The award committee would like to thank key partners with the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life in the award process, including the Emory Alumni Association, the Center for Civic and Community Engagement, and Volunteer Emory. The enthusiasm and excitement for the award by the Emory Muslim Students Association and the Graduate Muslim Students Council is also greatly appreciated. 

The Emory University Offiice of Spiritual and Religious Life is honored to have received the "Friend to the Greeks Award" at the recent Sorority and Fraternity Life Eminence Awards. Christian Chaplain The Rev. Maddie Henderson attended the ceremony on April 13, 2023 to receive the award. This award is given to an office or individual who demonstrates support of individuals or chapters within Greek life at Emory. OSRL received this award for their support of Greek life with forms of pastoral care during the Spring 2022 semester.

The Emory Inter-Religious Council (IRC) for 2022-2023 held its final meeting on Monday, April 24. This year the IRC met weekly to discuss interfaith discussion topics, participated in a retreat, planned service opportunities on Emory's MLK Day of Service, hosted tours of the new Interfaith Center, participated in a conference at Elon, and coordinated a campus-wide trip to the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL. During the last meeting, members reflected on the year and shared awards to thank and honor each other. The IRC consists of representatives from each undergraduate spiritual organization on campus as well as at-large members. We will miss our IRC seniors--thank you for everything you have contributed to the council and our office.

This Week at Hillel
Monday, April 24 to Saturday, April 29

Celebrating lots of lasts this week at Hillel. We hope to see you before you go home for summer. RSVP on the hive. 

Emory Graduate Student Fellowship: May Graduation Dinner
Thursday, May 4, 7:00 p.m., Glenn Goldsmith's Home

TONIGHT: Marriage Liturgical Practices: A Catholic-Orthodox Community Gathering with Gabriel Radle
Thursday, April 27, 6:30 p.m., Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church

This talk is sponsored by The Aquinas Center's Catholic-Orthodox Initiative and will examine the history of marriage liturgical practices in the Catholic and Orthodox faith traditions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for Happy Hour. Dinner and the program will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.  

Please click here to register.

Queerness, Latinx Identities and Religion: Charting New Research Courses 
Friday, April 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m., Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry

Join our CLAB member Daniel Ballon-Garst and Ismael Ruiz for a conversation on queerness, Latinx identity, and religion next Friday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Fox Center. Learn more here.

Insight into Mindfulness: Buddhist Literacy for Campus-Based Mental Health and Wellness Professionals
June 13-15, 2023, Harvard Divinity School

This 3.5-day in-person workshop teaches college and university mental health and wellness professionals how to use resources derived from Buddhist ideas, techniques, and traditions to address mental health issues on campus.

During the program participants will:
Learn the foundations of secular mindfulness within Buddhist meditation traditions, gaining an experiential grounding in the practices themselves, learn how traditional Buddhist ideas and practices complement, enhance, and apply to campus-based mindfulness interventions, and young adult formation and development, integrate diverse contemplative and ethical Buddhist practices of care with wellness, clinical, and other interventions on college campuses, explore when and how particular mindfulness interventions may be adapted to (or contraindicated by) other mental health considerations or the student’s religious or spiritual tradition.

The program seeks applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and roles, including those both inside and outside traditional college counseling centers. It is designed to amplify the work of psychologists, social workers, therapists, counselors, and other wellness and mental health staff.

To learn more, visit the website. To register, click here.