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A Reflection from the University Chaplaincy
Dear Tufts community,
This morning, a sparrow is singing outside my office. The song is so clear and close, I think he must be perched just beyond the window frame, in the bush lining the chapel wall. There is an advantage to old windows with leaded panes: the sounds of campus are never far away. Sometimes it’s applause from prospective students and families for a Tufts guide who is finishing their tour with flourish at the bottom of the chapel steps. Other times it’s laughter of undergrads making their way to the Academic Quad for class. Just last week, it was the startling swoosh of a bushy tail, like a whisk broom furiously at work, pressed up against my window ledge. A squirrel peered straight in the office and then turned. For several moments, she just sunned herself, perfectly still. And I joined her from my desk because the sun was glorious. That email could wait.
There is also a campus sound that delights me daily. At five o’clock, the chapel bells toll. Five solemn rings give way to a carillon concert, pre-programmed by Suzie Cartreine, the University Chaplaincy’s Music Director. You never know what you’ll hear! In January, “Let It Snow” rang merrily across the quad, beckoning the skies to bring us a day of sledding on Prez Lawn. On Valentine’s Day, the bells sounded out Nat King Cole’s classic, “L-O-V-E.” I walked out of the chapel singing: “L is for the way you look at me. O is for the only one I see. V is very, very extraordinary. E is even more than anyone that you adore...” Was there any carillon, in any tower, on any campus, anywhere, ringing that classic crooner's song?
Goddard Chapel’s carillon is composed of 25 bells which, according to a November 2001 Tufts Journal post, were donated over a period of years beginning in 1908. The Journal reports: “Previous to the acquisition of the "A" bell in 1908, a lesser bell in the chapel tower was used to summon students to class and chapel services. Before Goddard Chapel was built, the campus bell was located on the roof of Ballou Hall. The tolling duties were performed by a student employed as bell-ringer, a sought-after position that paid $40 a year and was one of few on-campus employment opportunities at the time." See below for a photo of one of those student ringers!
While we don’t have a student worker position for the carillon these days, we do have carillon concerts each semester. All are invited to work with Suzie to play a song – from Beyonce to Bach – on the electric keyboard console in the chapel that connects to the bells high above. You can be a lifelong pianist or a complete novice; there is something for you to play. Watch for news of our upcoming spring concert in March which will include afternoon treats on the lawn!
What sounds of campus, from Medford to Boston to Grafton, of animals, humans, instruments, wind or weather, are surprising you? As we make our way through this semester, as we absorb and respond to the myriad challenges and injustices that are erupting daily, as we care for and protect each other here at Tufts, let us also keep listening, pausing, delighting. Such practices can sustain and renew us in our days and for all that is ahead.
Pax et Lux,
Elyse Nelson Winger
University Chaplaincy
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| Upcoming Signature Programs
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"Where Do We Go From Here" Lunch and Learns
Various dates on all Tufts campuses
Join the Tufts community for "Where Do We Go From Here?" Lunch and Learn events this February, celebrating the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These gatherings will reflect on King’s 1967 speech and its call to unite power, love, and justice. Upcoming events will be held on the Medford Campus, and at the SMFA with lunch. Open to all faculty, staff, and students. For details contact the University Chaplaincy. Register below.
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Interfaith Ambassador information session and dinner
Wednesday, March 5, 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m., Mayer Campus Center Room 203
Have you attended an event hosted by the Interfaith Ambassador Team and want to learn more about how to become a part of this student leadership team? Are you a curious and creative person who is interested in interfaith community and programming for our Tufts community? Then come and hear from current Ambassadors about the work that they do and how you can bring your passions and ideas to this work! All current undergraduate first-years, sophomores, and juniors are invited for dinner and discussion. All interested students may apply for the position via Handshake between March 5 and March 23. Interviews will take place the week of March 24, and offers will be made the following week. Please register for dinner and contact University Chaplain Elyse Nelson Winger for more information.
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Religious and Philosophical Events and Gatherings
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Our events and weekly gatherings are open to everyone in the Tufts community. You can find a calendar and descriptions of our regular events on our website. If you have an idea for a gathering or event, please contact the University Chaplaincy.
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Two Events, One Day with the Africana Spirituality Series
Wednesday, February 19, Interfaith Center
Hearty Snacks and Dialogue: Islam, Christianity and Black Identity in America
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Join Dr. Kai Horn El-Amin for snacks and to share and discuss her experiences and intellectual journey that brought her to research questions of religion and identity and their place in modern American society. For students who are interested in pursuing similar questions, this will be an avenue to explore together the possibilities of research and its limitations. Students can share their own interests and how they wish to engage religion through their work, advocacy, research, and other activities. Food will be provided. For questions, email Humanist Chaplain Anthony Cruz Pantojas.
African Traditional Religion: The Making of a Black Christian
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join for dinner and a thought-provoking lecture exploring how identity politics in America shape our understanding of race, religion, gender, class, and human rights. Through storytelling and an Islamic literary lens, we’ll dive into historical and contemporary issues of racialization and bias. Together, we’ll unpack how these dynamics influence civil rights, cultural expressions, and our shared commitment to social justice. Food will be provided.
Register for one or both of the events below!
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Tea & Poetry: A Talk by Charles Hallisey
Wednesday, February 19, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Goddard Chapel
Tufts Buddhist Chaplaincy and Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha conduct “Tea & Poetry” on Wednesdays. We read Therigatha: The Poems of the First Buddhist Women and learn from their experiences. On Wednesday, February 19, Charles Hallisey, the translator of Therigatha will deliver a talk followed by a Q & A session and food. Please contact Buddhist Chaplain Vineetha Mahayaye with any questions!
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Visualizing the Divine
Monday, February 24, 7:00 p.m.– 8:30 p.m., Granoff Family Hillel Center
Join Tufts Hillel for the 2025 Feigenbaum Lecture with Professor J. H. Chajes. This will be an eye-opening exploration of ilanot, the ancient visual maps of Kabbalah. These intricate parchment scrolls, dating back to the 14th century, were used by Jewish mystics to map out the divine, blending spiritual insight with stunning imagery. Almost forgotten today, these “tree diagrams” offer a fresh perspective on how Kabbalists viewed the world, absorbed different cultural traditions, and connected with the divine. Whether you’re a history buff, a visual learner, or just curious about the intersection of religion and art, this talk will change the way you think about knowledge, spirituality, and creativity. Find more details and register below.
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Wednesday, February 26, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Interfaith Center, 58 Winthrop St.
Co-hosted by the Humanist Chaplaincy, the Latinx Center, and the Counseling and Mental Health Services, this gathering offers an opportunity to explore identity, build support, and embrace collective care through a diasporic lens. Join us as we cultivate reflection, connection, and growth. All are welcome and food will be provided. Please register below. For more information, email Humanist Chaplain Anthony Cruz Pantojas.
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Maha Shivratri Celebration
Wednesday, February 26, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Interfaith Center, 58 Winthrop St.
Join the Graduate Hindu Student Association for a Maha Shivratri Celebration, which will include prayer, story-sharing, a guided meditation, aarti, and lunch. Please email Graduate Student Intern Prakruthi Ramesh with any questions.
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| Partner and Community Programs
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Mental Health and Wellbeing Fair
Wednesday, February 26, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Joyce Cummings Center
Join Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS) and some of your favorite centers, student groups, and departments at the 3rd annual Mental Health and Wellbeing Fair for games, activities, free food, raffle prizes, and therapy dogs!
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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 Multifaith Calendar.
Maha Shivaratri
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Tradition: Hinduism
A feast dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. The night before the feast, fasting is observed, texts are recited, songs are sung, and stories told in honor of this God whose cosmic dance creates, preserves, destroys, and recreates the world. Observances may include limits to participation in academics or work.
Nineteen Day Fast
Friday, February 28 – Wednesday, March 19, 2025
A designated 19-day period of fasting each year immediately before the Bahá’í New Year. The fasting is seen as a period of spiritual preparation and regeneration for the new year ahead. Observances may include fasting.
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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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