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| A Reflection from the University Chaplaincy
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This past Sunday, the newly formed Inter-Christian Council hosted a celebration for the holiest day in the Christian calendar, Easter. Easter is about possibility and new life. It is about Jesus’ resurrection, but it is also about the resurrections in each of our lives and those in our world. As we began our dinner, a student from the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (whose Easter is coming up this Sunday) led us in prayer and reflection. We were blessed with the harmonies of S-Factor and reflections by students from different Christian communities. I was in awe of our students. They shared powerfully and prophetically about their journeys of faith, the questions on their hearts and what this foundational feast of the church means to them.
Our students inspire me every day, but the other night felt particularly poignant. In this time of war and violence, their public witness reminds me of the deep threads of unity and connection that knit us together. That might seem small, but it is actually essential for community.
Throughout the month of April, the University Chaplaincy will be hosting a Multifaith Gathering for Peace every Wednesday, 12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Goddard Chapel. During this time, we will draw from the wells of wisdom in our traditions and bear witness to one another’s longing for peace and possibility. There will be tea, candles, and togetherness during this drop-in time.
We know that some members of our community are more personally impacted than others at this time. Throughout the week, Goddard Chapel will be open with a designated space to write prayers and intentions. Our chaplains are here to support all members of the Tufts community for spiritual care and as confidential resources. You can find our building hours here. You can also schedule a confidential conversation with a chaplain through the link below.
Lynn Cooper
Catholic Chaplain and Associate Director, University Chaplaincy
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Multifaith Gathering for Peace
Wednesdays in April, 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m., Goddard Chapel
We are here for you, Jumbos! Our Multifaith Gathering for Peace will run through April each Wednesday 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. - you can drop in, chat with a chaplain, have some tea, and light a candle for peace with us. You can always schedule a confidential conversation with a chaplain through the link below too. All are welcome. Contact the University Chaplaincy with any questions.
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Upcoming Signature Events
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Spring 2026 Interfaith Field Trips
Join the University Chaplaincy on its spring Interfaith Field Trip Series! We will be visiting the secular Jewish cultural organization Boston Worker’s Circle on Monday, April 13 (5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.). You can sign up through the link below; all travel and meal costs are covered. Undergraduate and graduate students are all welcome! On Sunday, April 19, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. the Humanist Chaplaincy and Humanist Community at Tufts are hosting an interworldview plate-making session at a ceramics studio in Cambridge; we will host a conversation about shared meals and community. Please email the University Chaplaincy with any questions, and RSVP today!
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Tufts Table: Stories that Shape Our Community: Where Paths Cross & Diverge
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Breed Hall, 51 Winthrop Street
Open to All Tufts students, faculty, and staff! This event will highlight the important work of the Prejudice to Pluralism cohort and invite us to reflect on how we can productively engage across differences at Tufts. Guided by a pluralism framework, we will explore ways to strengthen relationships and collaborate on shared concerns. Learn more about the Tufts Table here.
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Religious and Philosophical Events and Gatherings
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Roots Run Deep: Culture, Spirit, & Mental Health
Wednesday, April 8, 5:00 p.m., Latinx Center
An exploratory and dialogic encounter at the intersection of lived and embodied traditions and mental health. This program is centered on Latiné and Afro-Caribbean ways of knowing and being in a communal space to listen, reflect, and be! Join us while enjoying good company and delicious food/ ¡Ven y disfruta buena compañía y comida deliciosa! Co-Sponsored by the Latinx Center, Counseling and Mental Health Services, and the Humanist Chaplaincy. Email Humanist Chaplain Anthony Cruz Pantojas with any questions.
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Goddard Cafe with the Interfaith Ambassadors
Sunday, April 12, 11:00 a.m., Goddard Chapel
Join the Interfaith Ambassadors for the Goddard Cafe at the Goddard Chapel this Sunday for free coffee, matcha, beverages, pastries and some seriously good vibes! All are welcome to get to know the Chapel as a place open for everyone - religious or not! RSVP using the button below today.
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Spanish - English Bilingual Mass
Sunday, April 12, Goddard Chapel
Every second Sunday of the month, the Catholic community celebrates Bilingual Mass. We would love for you to help us plan with music selection, singing/performing in the choir, reading scripture, and writing prayers. Our worship aid provides the readings in both languages, with all music and readings in Spanish and the homily in English. These services are such a blessing to our community, and we hope you will bring the spirit of your traditions to Tufts! Email student leader Jose Rodriguez Sanchez to learn more or sign up!
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Rabbi Roundtable
Sunday, April 12, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Tufts Hillel
Join us for a unique chance to engage in thoughtful conversation with Boston-area rabbis of different Jewish denominations as they share their perspectives on Jewish identity, religious practice, and community. Dinner will be served! Come with an open mind and your burning questions and be ready to confront the different beliefs that support the way Judaism is lived and practiced today. Open to all. Learn more about the Rabbi Roundtable here.
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Graduate Student Interfaith Dinner
Monday, April 13, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., The Rabb Room (Barnum 100)
Graduate students are invited to join us for a warm evening of connection over dinner with Protestant Chaplain, Daniel Bell and Buddhist Chaplain, Vineetha Mahayaye. Come explore friendship through different traditions, shared stories, and meaningful dialogue. RSVP using the button below!
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Root & Rise: Yoga with Sabbi Lal
Tuesday, 21 April, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Interfaith Center
Join us for Rooting with Yoga: Yoga with Sabbi Lal, a grounding session that invites you into the deeper roots of yoga. Drawing from her journey and study of Hindu traditions, Sabbi offers yoga as a spiritual and reflective practice.This is not a typical yoga class, but an exploration of philosophy, presence, and asana inspired by figures like Hanuman and Shiva. All are welcome to come as they are, reconnect, and share in community—dinner will be provided. RSVP today!
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15th Annual Tufts Women's Center Symposium - Body Language: Rewriting the Gendered Body through Embodied Knowledge, Accessibility & Fat Resistance
Friday, April 10 - Saturday, April 11, Tufts University
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To see more upcoming religious holidays and festivals, including information about seeking religious accommodations at Tufts, please follow the link to the Tufts Multifaith Calendar.
Passover/Pesach
Wed., Apr. 1 – Thu., Apr. 9, 2026
Tradition: Judaism
Begins at sundown on the first day listed. Passover commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home, starting with the Seder, a ritual meal that re-enacts that ancient deliverance and emphasizes the freedom of the Jews under the guidance of God.
Great Lent
Ongoing through Sat., Apr. 11, 2026
Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox
In Orthodox churches, the first day of Lent marks the beginning of the Great Fast, the final six weeks of a 10-week period leading up to Holy Week and Easter (Pascha). In the churches that follow the Gregorian calendar, Lent is a six-week observance (40 days excluding Sundays) beginning with Ash Wednesday and culminating in Holy Week. It is a time of repentance and sacrifice in preparation for Easter.
Holy Thursday
Thu., Apr. 9, 2026
Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox
Commemorates the institution of the Lord’s Supper/the Eucharist by Jesus prior to his arrest and execution. “Maundy” is derived from the Latin text of John 13:34, in which Jesus gives a mandatum novum (“new commandment”). The date observed by Protestants and Roman Catholics differs from the date observed by Orthodox Christians.
Holy Friday
Fri., Apr. 10, 2026
Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox
Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ, i.e., his death by crucifixion. Observed as Holy Friday by Orthodox Christians on a different date from the one observed by Protestants and Roman Catholics.
Easter Sunday
Sun., Apr. 12, 2026
Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox
Celebrates the resurrection from death of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest and most important festival in the Christian year and initiates the 50-day period culminating in Pentecost. Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians observe Easter on a different date than Orthodox Christians.
Vaisakhi
Mon., Apr. 13 – Tue., Apr. 14, 2026
Tradition: Hinduism, Sikhism
Occurs on the first day of the solar year. It is primarily an agricultural festival, celebrating the harvest, and is especially important in North India. It is named after the month Vaisakh. For Sikhs, it is also the anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa (the "Brotherhood of the Pure") in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh.
Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Mon., Apr. 13 – Tue., Apr. 14, 2026
Tradition: Judaism
Begins at sundown on the first day listed. Holocaust Memorial Day. Memorializes the six million Jews who died as victims of the Nazis during World War II and emphasizes respect for human dignity. Its observance is not limited to Jews.
Ridvan
Tue., Apr. 21 – Sat., May 2, 2026
Tradition: Baha'i
Commemorates the 12 days that Baha’u’llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan in the last days of his exile in Baghdad, during which time he proclaimed himself as the one announced by the Bab. Work is suspended for the first, ninth and 12th days.
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Support the University Chaplaincy
Supporting programs at Tufts University in religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life is easy and vital to our work. To donate, please click on the button below. Thank you for your generosity.
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The University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community. We provide spiritual care, support religious and philosophical communities, educate about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world, and promote multifaith engagement.
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