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Pax Et Lux: A Multifaith Winter Celebration, 2024
Photo credit: Jodi Hilton
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Winter Greetings from the University Chaplaincy
From Dan Bell, Protestant Chaplain
As the Magi followed a star to Bethlehem to find the light and joy of the Nativity amid the world’s darkness and gloom, so I pray you find a light that leads you to discover great joy, peace, hope, and love. I wish you blessings this holiday season and best wishes for the New Year!
From Naftali Brawer, Jewish Chaplain
As the fall semester draws to a close and you get ready to journey home or wherever else your circumstances take you during the winter break, I want to share a passage from the Hebrew Bible that offers comfort and security during transitionary moments in life: He will order his angels to guard you wherever you go. (Psalm 91:11) May the winter break rejuvenate you, body, mind, and spirit!
From Lynn Cooper, Catholic Chaplain
"Winter is the time to rest"
These are the wise words of my friend Laura, offered to me at the peak of the omicron surge when I had channeled all of my pandemic anxiety and stress into caring for the fig tree in our backyard. Had I wrapped it enough? Was the ground too frozen? Should I start garden clean up? Laura, who grew up on a farm, is my constant companion in growing--she is a resourceful well of practical wisdom and advice, always at the ready. That day, however, she gave me an even greater gift: perspective and attunement to the seasons. With love, I share it with you in these waning days of the year. Winter is the time to rest. Amid all unfolding in our world, country, and private lives, I wish you, my friends, the deep rest.
From Vineetha Mahayaye, Buddhist Chaplain
Be a Mirror to yourself
"What do you think, Rahula: What is a mirror for?"
"For reflection, sir." - quote from Ambalatthika-Rahulovada Sutta.
This is a discussion between the Buddha and his son, Rahula. I often think about this and reflect on both my failures and successes. I invite you to be a mirror to yourself during this winter break. As you go in front of the mirror, make yourself look good!
Elyse Nelson Winger, University Chaplain
This poem by Howard Thurman calls me back to a communal vision for healing, peace, and justice that transcends all religious and spiritual traditions. May the multitude of stories and songs shared this time of year inspire us for this work together.
“When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.”
From Anthony Cruz Pantojas, Humanist Chaplain
As winter envelops us, we are called to adapt, to listen, and to simply be. This season invites us to embrace the depth found in stillness and the magic of our shared humanity. Through care and connection, we weave a tapestry of belonging that sustains us. May your “wintering” bring warmth and clarity to your journey.
From Khan Shairan, Muslim Chaplin
As the semester comes to a close, and the cold of winter blankets the landscape with greys, browns, and the darkness of a perpetual twilight, I would like to call attention to the resources in the Islamic tradition that reminds us that in dark times, we are each other’s support. Our duties as human beings extend to everybody around us, and that in fulfilling those duties, we are promised the reward of a verdant spring. As the Messenger of Allah said, “Charity is due upon every joint of the people for every day upon which the sun rises. Justly reconciling two people is charity. Helping a man with his animal and lifting his luggage upon it is charity. A kind word is charity. Every step that you take towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the road is charity.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī 2989].
So I hope that you are charitable towards one another in dark times, and lift each other up when you are feeling blue, and wait with friends and family for the colors of spring.
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MLK Student Voices Award: Accepting creative submissions now!
Tufts' annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration offers the Tufts community a time to participate in the ongoing university commitment to racial justice by honoring what we learn from the past, listening deeply to current voices of change, and celebrating a future of Beloved Community at Tufts and beyond. Each year, we invite student voices — through essays, poems, spoken word, songs, art, or performances — to be a part of our community celebration.
Interested undergraduates and graduate students are invited to submit creative responses here for this year's Student Voices Award as part of the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration coordinated by the Africana Center, Tisch College of Civic Life, and the University Chaplaincy for the 2025 Celebration, which will take place on January 30, 2025. We ask submitters to connect to the "Where Do We Go From Here" speech given by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967, and celebrate where the ethos expressed in his words is alive on our Tufts campuses. Submissions should focus on this specific quote:
“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go From Here (1967)
For the 2025 Award, submissions should respond to one or more of these questions:
How does this quotation still apply or resonate with you today? What new interpretations would you make today?
What does it mean to you at this time of your life? Where does it show up for you at Tufts?
What is the relationship between power, love, and justice to you?
How does your medium represent the lack of love, power, and justice in the context of the quote?
Individual and group submissions are welcome. Submissions must be original work but can have been created for another class, activity, or contest. They can be essays, poems, songs, art, and performances; we will accept content in PDF, MP4, MOV, jpeg, and PNG.
A small committee will choose up to three winners based on organization, clarity, creativity, originality, and relationship to the 2025 guiding text. Winners will receive a cash prize and be invited to present at the Celebration on Thursday, January 30, 2025. Winning submissions will also be published on the Africana Center and the University Chaplaincy websites.
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Blessing of the Laptops
Wednesday, December 11th from Noon to 2 PM at Tisch Library
Finals can be stressful! You are not alone. Let’s celebrate the tools we use to study, write, create, and communicate. Blessings from our multifaith chaplains will be brief, non-denominational, and accompanied by candy! Please contact chaplaincy@tufts.edu with any questions.
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Decompression Space
Wednesday, December 11th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in Goddard Chapel
Join the Interfaith Student Council for a Decompression Space! Take a break from studying with crafts, snacks, ice cream, legos, and friends. Come and go as you wish.
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In the News
📌 Read this article from the Tufts Daily about our new Buddhist Chaplain Vineetha Mahayaye
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| Partner and Community Programs
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CMHS Animal Assisted Therapy
Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 PM
CMHS now offers animal-assisted therapy as well as 15-minute petting sessions. Ellen Yang and Cooper Blue, her Australian Cobberdog (labradoodle), are a certified therapy dog team and are available for appointments at CMHS on Friday afternoons from 1:00-5:00 pm. The 15-minute petting sessions are for comfort and can help you relax and destress. 45-minute clinical appointments with the therapy dog team are also available. Please note that appointments with the therapy dog team cannot be scheduled online. Call CMHS at 617-627-3360 if you’d like to meet with Cooper and Ellen.
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Upcoming Religious Celebrations and Observances
To see more upcoming religious holidays and festivals, including information about seeking religious accommodations at Tufts, please follow the link to the Tufts Mulitfaith Calendar.
Advent
Ongoing through Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Period of four weeks in which Christians prepare for Christmas and meditate on the end of all time. In Western churches, the first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Lady of Guadalupe Day commemorates the appearance of the Virgin Mary, Mexico’s patron saint, in Mexico City on December 12, 1531.
Yule
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Begins at sundown on the first day listed. Winter Solstice, celebrating the longest night and the blessings of darkness as well as the rebirth of the sun god.
Christmas
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Observances may include limits to participation in academics or work.
Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Celebrates the anniversary of the birth (nativity) of Jesus. December 25 is the date of this observance for Roman Catholic, Protestant, and many Orthodox Christian churches. Observances may include limits to participation in academics or work.
Hanukkah
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – Thursday, January 2, 2025
Begins at sundown on the first day listed. The Feast of Lights (Feast of Dedication) is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the rededication of the Temple following the Jews' victory over occupying forces in 165 BCE, which re-established for a time their religious and political freedom.
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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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