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| A Reflection from the University Chaplaincy
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The traditional Advent Wreath at Goddard Chapel
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Each year, the Christian liturgical season of Advent coincides with the end of the fall semester. It is an interesting pairing, to say the least. Two seasons overlaid upon each other – one focused on the culmination of effort and evaluation of progress and the other about anticipation, expectation, and active patience. This tension is real. It reflects the many ways that our religious and philosophical traditions dwell in paradox.
This past Sunday, the Catholic and Protestant communities marked the first Sunday of Advent by lighting a purple candle on the traditional Advent wreath (pictured), a candle dedicated to hope. While this act changed the sanctuary in a physical way, it also pointed towards an internal shift as well. We turn our hearts toward the big hope this time of year, the long hope—that peace on earth is possible. In the words of the Sisters of Charity, lighting the candle is a way of saying “we choose hope with our voices, our presence, and our holy trouble.” I love how the sisters remind us that we are part of the work of hope. Hope is not passivity. It’s a way of being in the world.
Tonight, we will gather in Goddard Chapel for Pax et Lux, our Multifaith Celebration of Peace and Light. I always look forward to this special evening of song, dance, and story. With the chapel aglow, I find comfort, meaning, and inspiration in the many ways our religious and cultural traditions communicate and celebrate peace and light.
My friends, as we head into these final days of classes and final exams, I wish your own moment of comfort, meaning and inspiration.
With care and gratitude,
Lynn Cooper
Associate Director, University Chaplaincy and Catholic Chaplain
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Thank you for your support on Giving Tuesday!
We are so grateful for the support of so many people this past Giving Tuesday! Thanks to you we raised over $10,000 for our interfaith field trip series and our chaplaincies. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we will continue to offer our impactful Field Trip Series in Spring and Fall 2026 as well as sustain meaningful programming across our diverse communities.
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Upcoming Signature Events
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Today! Pax et Lux
Wednesday, December 3, 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Goddard Chapel
Pax et Lux is Tufts University’s annual multi-faith and multi-cultural winter celebration organized by the University Chaplaincy's Interfaith Ambassador Team. Inspired by themes of ‘Peace and Light,’ the program seeks to highlight the rich mosaic of arts, traditions, and histories present at Tufts University. It further aims to honor diversity through storytelling, music, dance, and performance – bridging the magic of festivities with the celebration of peace. Join this year for dancers, story-tellers, and the aftershow "Light the Quad" ! Email the University Chaplaincy if you have any questions.
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Wendell Phillips Speaker Nominations
Nominations due by Monday, December 8, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Nominate an outstanding senior today, Tufts! The Wendell Phillips Award was established in 1896 and is given annually to a senior who demonstrates both marked ability as a speaker and a high sense of public responsibility. Selected by the Committee on Student Life, the winner is the one graduating senior invited to offer a speech as part of Commencement, and the speech takes place during the Baccalaureate Ceremony. The speech is intended to deliver a message about civic engagement in our time. Faculty, staff, and students may nominate seniors to apply for this honor, and seniors may self-nominate. If you know a talented, committed member of the Class of 2026, nominate them today by clicking the button below.
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Religious and Philosophical Events and Gatherings
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Spiritual Diasporas: a performance symposium
Wednesday, December 3 - Friday, December 5
Join the University Chaplaincy and co-sponsors for the Spiritual Diasporas Series. This is a series of embodied gatherings that draw on performance ritual and spiritual ceremony to cultivate care, agency, and worldbuilding through which we experience wholeness. How might we tend to the spirits of this land and of our kin through ceremony? How do we invoke and reckon with entangled colonial histories and their continuations through communal stories, songs, and rituals? By activating the body as an instrument to reclaim and reconnect with spirituality, we cultivate life-affirming power to come together to be in embodied presence with one another and our ancestors. These intimate gatherings include artist workshops, performance ceremony, devised performance workshop, talking circles, and dance party on the Medford campus.
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Christmas Comes Early: A Party!
Saturday, December 6, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Interfaith Center
Join the Tufts Christian communities as we celebrate Advent and Christmas with dinner, holiday treats, gingerbread house-building, and card-writing for custodial staff. Hosted by Tufts' Christian undergraduate organizations and sponsored by the Protestant and Catholic Chaplaincies, this is a great way to celebrate the season and mark the end of the fall semester. Please RSVP by clicking the button below. If you would like to help with setup or cleanup, please let Protestant Chaplain Dan Bell know.
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Student Voices Award Submissions Open!
Submit by December 7
All Tufts students are invited to apply for the 2026 Student Voices Award as part of the annual MLK Celebration! A cash prize of $500 will be awarded to the winner (may be an individual or a group). Submissions should respond to the excerpt from King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech: "We cannot walk alone. As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back." Submissions can be any medium (photography, spoken word, essay, dance, etc.) and must be submitted by Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Find more information and submit your work through the link below.
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Protestant Evening Worship: Christmas Service
Sunday, December 7, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel
Join us for our final service of 2025! Professor David Proctor will offer the sermon, a choir will sing medieval Advent hymns, and we'll sing Christmas carols! All are welcome for this special seasonal celebration.
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Bodhi Day Celebration
Monday, December 8, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Interfaith Center
The evening will include Buddhist recitations from Voices for Peace & Light, teachings from Kwan Haeng Sunim (the abbot at Providence Zen Center) and dinner from Zhu Vegan. All are welcome. For questions, contact Buddhist Chaplain Vineetha Mahayaye.
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Mindful Tea Tasting with Graduate Interfaith Council
Tuesday, December 9, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Goddard Chapel
Take a peaceful break during finals with us to unwind and enjoy delicious teas and snacks while enjoying the peace and calm of the Goddard Chapel. Contact Protestant Chaplain Daniel Bell with any questions.
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Resources and Opportunities
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Jumbo Day: SMFA Art Sale
Thursday, December 4, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., SMFA, 230 The Fenway, Boston
Join the SMFA for Jumbo Day at the SMFA Art Sale! This special preview is reserved exclusively for Tufts students, faculty, staff, and alumni before the sale opens to the public. A shuttle is available from the Tufts campus for your convenience. Checkout the SMFA Art Sale webpage for more details!
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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. Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)
Mon., Dec. 8, 2025
Tradition: Buddhism
In the northern tradition, this is the anniversary of the Buddha’s Enlightenment, ca. 596 B.C.E. In the southern tradition, the Buddha’s Enlightenment is celebrated during Wesak. The dates and names of Buddhist celebrations vary significantly among cultures and communities.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Mon., Dec. 8, 2025
Tradition: Christianity-Roman Catholic
A feast day that celebrates the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was born without sin.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Fri., Dec. 12, 2025
Tradition: Christianity-Roman Catholic
Commemorates the day on which the Guadalupana (the Virgin of Guadalupe) appeared to San Juan Diego and her image appeared on his tilma (apron). The miraculous roses Juan Diego found and carried to the Bishop took the form of the image of Mary exactly as she had appeared to him at the hill of Tepeyac.
Hanukkah
Sun., Dec. 14 – Mon., Dec. 22, 2025
Tradition: Judaism
Celebrated for eight days to commemorate the rededication of the Temple following the Jews’ victory over occupying forces in 165 B.C.E., which reestablished for a time their religious and political freedom.
Yule
Sun., Dec. 21, 2025
Tradition: Wicca/Paganism
Winter Solstice, celebrating the longest night and the blessings of darkness as well as the rebirth of the sun god.
Christmas
Thu., Dec. 25, 2025
Tradition: Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic
Celebrates the anniversary of the birth (nativity) of Jesus. Dec. 25 is the date of this observance for Roman Catholic, Protestant, and many Orthodox Christian churches. In some Orthodox churches, Christmas falls on January 7.
Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Thu., Dec. 25, 2025
Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox
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.
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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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