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News and Programs 4.23.26
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Today: Emory University Buddha Day Celebration
Thursday, April 23, Program 6:00 p.m., Dinner 7:15 p.m., Cannon Chapel
All members of the Emory community are invited to join in the celebration of Buddha’s life and teachings with Emory’s Buddhist and interfaith communities. Popularly known as Buddha Jayanti, Vesak, Vaisakhi, Visakha, or Full Moon Day, this holiday commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and final passing of the Buddha. We will celebrate this occasion with traditional Buddhist chanting, Dharma reflections, and a communal vegetarian meal. RSVP here.
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MindfulEmory Student Retreat
Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., Cannon Chapel
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 23, 5:00 p.m.
Join MindfulEmory and the Office of Sustainability Initiatives for a contemplative retreat for students before finals. The retreat will offer time to slow down, build community, and support resilience through yoga, a sound bath, meditation, journaling, mindful eating, bonsai workshop, and gentle group practices. It is free and open to all Emory University students. A vegetarian lunch will be served. Attendance is capped. RSVP here. For questions, contact religiouslife@emory.edu.
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Attention Seniors: Baccalaureate Luncheon 2026
Friday, May 8, 2026, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Brooks Commons, Cannon Chapel
The Baccalaureate Luncheon is an opportunity for the Emory University Chaplaincy to honor graduating students who have been leaders in spiritual, religious, and interfaith life during their time at Emory and to reflect on and give thanks for their journeys as they become alumni.
A list of student awardees is invited and other graduates are welcome to join. Graduating Emory students are welcome. RSVP here.
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Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration Pre-Orientation 2026
Program Dates: August 17-21, 2026
Registration for incoming First-Year Students Opens: May 13, 2026
Imagine your first Emory campus experience being filled with community, good food, and deep conversations while experiencing an array of beautiful and welcoming religious communities across campus and Atlanta. These twelve students are preparing to facilitate and welcome up to 40 fortunate incoming students through the WISE (Welcoming Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration) Pre-Orientation program.
Meet these WISE Peer Mentors here. Learn more about the WISE program here.Incoming students register here beginning May 13, 2026.
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Emory University Chaplaincy: Dean McGonigle Inducted into Morehouse College Collegium of Scholars
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, Emory's Dean of Religious Life The Rev. Dr. Gregory W. McGonigle was inducted into the Morehouse College MLK International Chapel Collegium of Scholars. Started in 1984, the collegium is comprised of internationally renowned academics who are committed to research, writing, teaching, and mentoring in a variety of disciplines and contexts that promote the work of peace through global social moral responsibility. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock gave the address, and the ceremony also honored the founding dean of Morehouse Chapel, The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Carter, who has served for 47 years. Congratulations to Candler Professor of Pastoral Theology The Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Y. Lartey, who was also inducted in this year's ceremony.
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Emory University Chaplaincy Recap: Spiritual Leadership and Diversity Panel at Emory Inter-Religious Council Meeting
On Monday, April 20, our Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim Chaplains (Pandit Rajeev, Rabbi Jordan, and Ustadh Rahimjon) joined the Inter-Religious Council for its weekly meeting. The panel, which also included Dean Greg McGonigle and Liz Martin, joined the council in conversation about how to promote interfaith engagement on campus. The dialogue was facilitated by IRC member Gianni Lugo, who has also been serving on the Emory College Council. Thank you for a rich discussion.
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Flourishing Fellows: Community Supper and Brew and Breathe events
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Sunday, May 2, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Emory Interfaith Center
Wind down with an end-of-semester coffee shop style study and de-stress session. Sign up here.
Sponsored by the Emory University Chaplaincy.
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Upcoming Spiritual Life Programs
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Beloved Community Christian Worship and Free Lunch
Sundays during Term, 11:00 a.m. Service, Noon Free Lunch, Cannon Chapel
Emory Beloved Community is a weekly ecumenical Protestant worship service for the campus community, held in Cannon Chapel. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Emory Christian Chaplain Rev. Maddie Herlong at mhend25@emory.edu.
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Mindfulness Circle at Interfaith Center
Mondays during Term, 6-7 p.m., Emory Interfaith Center Meditation Room, 1707 N. Decatur Road
Facilitated by Emory Buddhist Chaplain Venerable Priya Rakkhit Sraman, the Mindfulness Circle is a space exclusively for Emory students to practice mindfulness as a group. Every Monday during the semester, we will engage in a mindfulness exercise followed by conversations around the practices of mindfulness. Light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, please contact Buddhist Chaplain Venerable Priya at psraman@emory.edu.
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Weekly Buddhist Meditation and Dharma Gathering
Thurdays during Term
- 5:15 p.m. Community Tea in Cannon Room 106
- 6:00 p.m. Meditation in Cannon Chapel Sanctuary
Come to enjoy light refreshments before meditation, and to connect with Emory Buddhist Club leaders and friends.
For more information, please contact Buddhist Chaplain Venerable Priya at psraman@emory.edu.
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Muslim Jumu'ah Prayers
Fridays Year Round, Prayers 1:55 p.m., Cannon Chapel
Join Emory Muslim Life for Friday Prayers every week. Join the Muslim Life elist here.
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MSA: Senior Farewell
Friday, April 24, 6:00 p.m., RARB 102
MSA’s annual Senior Farewell is approaching. All Emory community members are invited. Join us as we celebrate our seniors with dinner, gifts, awards, and more. Learn more here.
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Hindu Aarthi
Fridays during Term, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Cannon Chapel
Join Emory's Hindu community for weekly prayers and community. All are welcome.
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Emory Hindu Life: Hinduism Roundtable
Thursdays during Term, 5:30-6:30 p.m., AMUC 125
Come be part of a welcoming space for thoughtful conversation and community. Every Thursday, we gather from 5:30-6:30 pm in AMUC 125 to discuss Hindu ideas, engage critically, and interact with meaningful readings. Whether you’re deeply rooted in Hinduism or simply curious to learn more, this circle offers a chance to reflect, ask questions, and explore the Hindu tradition. Come with questions and ideas. Snacks will be served.
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Emory Hindu Life and HSA: Senior Puja
Friday, April 24, 5:00 p.m., Cannon Chapel
Please join us to celebrate seniors at Cannon Chapel on April 24 at 5:00 p.m. Make sure to RSVP for free food. RSVP here.
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Emory Jewish Life: Judaism as a Spiritual Path
Fridays during Term, Noon, AMUC 125
Join Emory Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Jordan Braunig for weekly Torah study in AMUC 125. All are welcome. For questions, please email jordan.braunig@emory.edu.
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Chabad at Emory: Shabbat
Fridays during Term, Services 7:30 p.m., Dinner 8:00 p.m., 1500 N Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA 30306
Join fellow Emoryites and experience Shabbat at Chabad. A perfect blend of gourmet food, spirited singing, friendly schmoozing, and inspired ideas. RVSP is a must. Text “Shabbat Dinner” to 404.999.7787 to register. Sponsored by Chabad at Emory. Learn more here.
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Hillel at Emory: Shabbat
6:30 pm Services, 7:00 p.m. Dinner, Marcus Hillel Center
Join Hillel at Emory for Shabbat services and dinner. Learn more here.
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Hillel at Emory: Take Care Tuesdays
Every other Tuesday starting February 3, 4:30 p.m., Cannon Chapel Conference Room 105D
Join Emory Hillel to unwind every other Tuesday. Learn more here.
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University Catholic Center: Weekly Offerings
- Sunday - Catholic Mass, 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Cannon Chapel
- Tuesday - Catholic Eucharistic Adoration, 5:00 p.m., University Catholic Center, 1753 N Decatur Rd
- Wednesday - Catholic Mass, 5:00 p.m., University Catholic Center, 1753 N Decatur Rd
- Friday - Catholic Mass, 5:00 p.m., University Catholic Center, 1753 N Decatur Rd
We also have the Rosary being prayed as a group on:
- Monday/Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. on the Quad
- Tuesday/Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on the Quad
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In Via: Becoming Journal Release Party
Thursday, April 23, 5:30 p.m., Quad
Come celebrate the newest issue of InVia Journal with us on the Quad. Dinner provided. Learn more here.
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LaFe: Taquero Night
Friday, April 24, 6:00 p.m., SAAC Field, Clairmont Campus
¡Hola familia! We would like to invite you to our biggest event of the year, Taquero Night. Join us for a fun night with delicious food and fellowship. We would love to see you all there Friday April 24 at the SAAC Field. Have a blessed week.
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Emory Graduate Christian Fellowship: Weekly Bible Study
Thursdays during Term, 6:00-7:00 p.m., AMUC 125C
Come spend time with reading God’s word with us. No preparation needed, just show up. To learn more, join the GCF GroupMe here.
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Reformed University Fellowship
Mark your calendars for these events so you can come by and see us.
Learn more about other RUF activities here.
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Bread Coffeehouse
1227 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30307
Visit Bread Coffeehouse or join us for DBS (Dinner, Band, and Stories) on Thursdays during Term at 7:15 p.m. Espresso Bar open M-Th, 12-5 p.m.
To learn more, visit here.
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Baptist Collegiate Ministry: Large Group Meetings Spring 2026
Thursdays during Term, 7:00 p.m., AMUC 108
It's that time. Doors open at 7:00 pm for pizza and games and Bible study starts at 7:30 pm. Hope to see you there. Learn more here.
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Emory Orthodox Christian Fellowship Faith and Falafel
Every Wednesday in Term, 7:30 p.m., Cannon Chapel Room 314
That’s right, we’re back for another semester filled with lots of falafel and even more faith. Join OCF every Wednesday night in Cannon Chapel 314 for free falafel sandwiches, new friends, and an awesome discussion.
Bring you, your friends, and a curious mind. All are welcome, no matter your faith. Together, we’ll study the spiritual life of the apostles, understand Orthodoxy, and grow in Christ—week by week.
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International InterVarsity Fellowship
International students and visiting scholars are invited to be a part of the International InterVarsity Christian community. At Cannon Chapel's Brooks Commons each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Term is Tea Talk, a chance to have boba tea and practice English conversation, Fridays at 6:30 p.m. in Term is Dinner and Bible Study, and other activities like hiking trips are announced regularly. Please check and sign up for our coming activities here.
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Friends Meeting for Worship at Emory (Quakers)
Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m., Cannon Chapel Room 106
Join us for silent worship and reflection. All students, faculty, and staff welcome. For further information, please contact Professor Christine Moe, Department of Global Health, at clmoe@emory.edu.
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Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church: Sunday Worship Services
Sundays, 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Glenn Memorial Church
Glenn Memorial UMC invites you to worship with us. A short walk to the front gate of campus, Glenn has a thriving young adult group, and we welcome newcomers anytime. Are you an early riser to get a head start on homework? The 8:30 service might be for you. Do you sleep in on Sundays? We'll catch you at 11:00 am. There is a place for you at Glenn, and we'd love to help you find it.
For more info about worship or young adult ministry, visit our website here https://www.glennumc.org/young-adults or contact Director of Young Adult Ministries Sutton Smith at 334-707-1486.
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Wesley Fellowship at Emory University
Wesley Fellowship is a campus ministry for undergraduates and graduate students at Emory University. Wesley Fellowships and Foundations exist all over the country as ministries of the United Methodist Church, giving students the opportunity for community and spiritual formation. Wesley ministries are named for John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of the Methodist movement.
Wesley is a United Methodist college ministry housed at Glenn Memorial UMC on Emory's campus. We are open-minded, LGBTQ-affirming, and justice-seeking. Follow us on Instagram @emorywesleyfellowship and join our GroupMe to stay connected. Reach out to Director Sutton Smith at ssmith@glennumc.org with questions.
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Candler School of Theology: Chapel Worship Schedule
Tuesdays and Thursdays during Term, 11:05 a.m. - 12 p.m., Cannon Chapel Sanctuary
All are welcome to join the Candler community in ecumenical Christian worship. View the Candler worship schedule here.
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Office of Sustanability Initiatives: Arbor Day Volunteering
Friday, April 24, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Volunteer with the Office of Sustainability Initiatives and the Emory Grounds team to remove Ivy from Lullwater's trees in celebration of Arbor Day on April 24th.
Please make sure to bring a reusable water bottle, wear closed-toe shoes and long sleeves, and put on some sunscreen in advance. You will receive merchandise for your support. Thanks for volunteering.
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Fireside Chat with Lobsang Tenzin Negi
Tuesday, May 5, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Ackerman Hall, Michael C. Carlos Museum
We invite you to join us for an engaging and thought-provoking fireside chat with Lobsang Tenzin Negi, Executive Director of the Emory Compassion Center, in conversation about his forthcoming book, Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life. At a time when burnout, social fragmentation, and declining wellbeing are increasingly recognized as urgent challenges, new interdisciplinary approaches are emerging to better understand and cultivate the conditions for human flourishing.
Drawing on decades of scholarship and collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dr. Negi bridges contemplative wisdom and modern science to illuminate compassion as a powerful, trainable skill. Grounded in CBCT® (Cognitively Based Compassion Training), Engaged Compassion offers a clear pathway to greater emotional resilience, deeper connection, and enhanced wellbeing.
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Fifth Annual Freedom of Religion Roundtable
Thursday, April 30, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Kennesaw State University Campus
The 5th Annual Freedom of Religion Roundtable, hosted by the Freedom of Religion Roundtable (FORR), is a collaborative, nonpartisan gathering dedicated to advancing a clear, constitutional understanding of religious freedom. This year’s roundtable will convene citizens, clergy, policymakers, educators, legal experts, and community leaders at Kennesaw State University to explore current challenges, dispel common misconceptions, and foster respectful dialogue across differences.
Through education, advocacy, and coalition-building, FORR works to ensure that individuals and institutions of all beliefs can live, serve, and contribute to society according to conscience—without coercion or discrimination. Attendees will leave better equipped to engage thoughtfully in their communities, support pluralism, and help preserve the public square as a place where belief and practice can flourish.
The event will be on April 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Kennesaw State University, Prillaman Hall, 520 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Seating is limited so register soon here.
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Opportunities and Resources
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Faiths United to Save Democracy: Faith in Action at the Polls
Mondays, July 13, September 28, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
Faiths United to Save Democracy invites faith leaders to sign up for a virtual Poll Chaplain/Peacekeeper, "Know Your Rights," and De-escalation Training training. Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers can help provide a calm, moral climate for citizens to exercise their sacred right to vote and de-escalate potential conflicts that hinder voting.
Poll Chaplains/Peacekeepers serve in AZ, GA, MI, NC, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WI.
You can sign up here if you are interested.
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Aspen Religion Fellows: About the Fellowship
Applications due: May 1, 2026
In a world that is becoming increasingly multi-religious and multi-ethnic, we need leaders who understand the power of religion and can bring the practices of religious pluralism into the spaces where they live and work. The Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program is launching the Aspen Religion Fellows, a new fellowship designed to support rising leaders who are committed to advancing equitable public pluralism.
The fellowship will bring together ten rising leaders, ages 25–40, for an 18-month cohort-based experience focused on learning, leadership development, and action. Fellows will engage deeply with religious pluralism, explore how it intersects with major issues of our time, and develop projects that bring pluralism practices into their own professional communities.
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Pathways Center: Internship Funding
Deadline: Monday, May 4, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
Emory's Pathways Center offers funding for summer internships. Funding can be up to $3000 for a domestic internship and $4000 for a global internship. Apply here by May 4 at 9:00 a.m. to be considered for funding.
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Love as a Force for Social Change
Application Deadline: May 4, 2026
Submit a Manuscript to the Journal of College and Character: Special issue on Love as a Force for Social Change
From disturbingly cheerful predictions about the demise of higher education to rhetoric casting professors as adversaries, postsecondary institutions face a steady stream of criticism and hostility. This negativity demoralizes us at times, yet those of us who work on college campuses often describe our vocation as a labor of love. We know of faculty inviting international students to their homes when they have no place to go over breaks, residence hall directors spending nights in hospitals with students facing injury or illness, student activists risking expulsion and arrest standing up for oppressed communities. These stories (and so many more) exemplify the beloved community, a term first used by philosopher, Josiah Royce, then popularized by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to describe people working together interdependently toward a vision of compassion, peace, and recognition of the inherent worth of all living beings.
In this special issue, we seek your stories of universities as beloved communities. To be sure, higher education falls short of this idea in many ways. But those shortcomings are already well-documented, hence our desire to offer a counternarrative.
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Spring 2026 Therapy and Support Groups
CAPS offers a number of differ therapy and support groups each semester. Review the schedule above for more information. For questions, please contact alexandra.j.scott@emory.edu.
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Eagle Food Pantry and Donations
The Eagle Food Pantry is a free food pantry for Emory University Students housed at Bread Coffeehouse. We are open Fridays from 9 am-5 pm during the semester and can be found at 1227 Clifton Rd. Students can visit the pantry as many times as needed and there is no food limit.
Donations can be made through our Amazon wishlist, our website, or dropped off at Bread Monday-Thursday 12-5 pm. Our most desired items are pasta, pasta sauce, oatmeal packets, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, fruit cups, canned beans, canned veggies, and canned soup. For questions, please email eaglefoodpantry@breadcoffeehouse.org.
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Weekly Spiritual Gatherings
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There is a plethora of weekly religious and philosophical gatherings offered at Emory. Many of them are listed here and at the button below.
Check back for more weekly gatherings as the semester gets started.
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Emory University Chaplaincy: Chaplain Office Hours in AMUC 125
Monday-Friday during Term, Noon-2 p.m., AMUC 125
Emory University Chaplaincy chaplains are available Monday through Friday from approximately Noon-2 p.m. during term in AMUC Suite 125 to offer pastoral care and have meetings with students, faculty, and staff. The general schedule is below and may vary semester to semester.
- Monday: Rev. Maddie Herlong
- Tuesday: Ven. Priya Rakkhit Sraman
- Wednesday: Ustadh Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov
- Thursday: Pandit Rajeev Persaud
- Friday: Rabbi Jordan Braunig
To schedule a time with a chaplain outside of these hours, please contact them directly here.
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Religious Accommodations: List of Major Religious Holidays 2025-26
Emory OSRL seeks to provide guidance for the Emory community regarding upcoming religious holiday observances that may impact the community by providing a list of major religious holidays observed by sizeable religious demographic groups within the Emory community. These are provided in order to assist community members with avoiding potential schedule conflicts. For more information, please click here. For questions, please contact religiouslife@emory.edu.
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Upcoming Religious Holidays
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.
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.
Vesak (Buddha Day)
Fri., May 1, 2026
Tradition: Buddhism
The commemoration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, celebrated on the day of the full moon of the sixth lunar month in Southeast Asia; in Tibet, Vesak commemorates only the enlightenment and nirvana. The dates of this celebration vary significantly among Buddhist cultures and communities.
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Emory University Chaplaincy E-news is published weekly during term by the Emory University Chaplaincy, publicizing Atlanta-campus spiritual life programs. It is not a comprehensive listing. 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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