Spiritual Life

The University's commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus extends to all religious faiths with spiritual life viewed as an integral part of a student's holistic development. For those from a specific faith tradition or for those in spiritual, ethical, and philosophical exploration, growth can occur both as an individual and within community. RWU encourages multi-faith learning and dialogues, service experiences, community building, and justice seeking within campus life and beyond.

Student Faith Groups and opportunities for campus worship 

Faculty and staff advisors work with student groups to support community, student faith, and religious, spiritual, and moral/ethical explorations. For more information on any of these student groups contact the Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation office at 401-254-3088.

  • HILLEL (JEWISH COMMUNITY): Our Hillel student club celebrates the richness of Judaism as both a religion and a culture here on campus.  This includes  gatherings for Shabbat, celebrating the High Holidays, and hosting socials.  Information on Hillel can be found by connecting with them via email hillel@g.rwu.edu.
     
  • CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY: Gathers for Mass on Sundays at 6:00 p.m., Mary Teft White Center, University Library.  Information on Catholic Campus Ministry, please contact Dr. Sean Varano at svarano@rwu.edu
     
  • CHRISTIAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP (CSF): Our CSF student club is  a nondenominational Christian group focused on Christian formation, prayer, and Bible study. CSF has traveled to sites in the US and Caribbean that needed help rebuilding after catastrophic hurricanes during the Spring Break period. Information on CSF can be found by connecting with them via email at csf@g.rwu.edu
     
  • Prayer and Meditation Room in the Intercultural Center, which is available to all students. Religious and prayer services convene in locales across the campus.

Below please find the holy days observed by many students, faculty, and staff members in our community. The list, while exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Please direct suggestions for additions to the list of religious days of observance to the Office of Student Life, rwustudentlife@rwu.edu.

  • June 5 - 9*, Eid al-Adha** (Islamic)
  • July 5 - 6*, Ashura** (Islamic)
  • August 15, Feast of Assumption (Roman Catholic)
  • September 8, Feast of the Nativity** (Orthodox Christian)
  • September 22 - 24*, Rosh Hashanah** (Judaism)
  • September 22 - October 2, Navaratri (Hinduism)
  • October 1 - 2*, Yom Kippur** (Judaism)
  • October 6 - 13*, Sukkot (Judaism)
  • October 7 - November 5, Kathin (Theravada Buddhist)
  • October 20, Diwali (Hinduism/Sikhism/Jainism)
  • December 8, Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
  • December 14 - 22*, Hanukkah (Judaism)
  • December 21, Winter Solstice (Traditions across the world)
  • December 24, Christmas Eve (Christian)
  • December 25, Christmas Day (Christian)
  • December 26 - January 1, Kwanzaa (Interfaith)
  • February 17, Lunar New Year (Buddhism)
  • February 17 - March 19*, Ramadan (Islamic)
  • February 18, Ash Wednesday (Christian)
  • February 18 - April 2, Lent (Christian)
  • March 2 - 3*, Purim (Judaism)
  • March 4, Holi (Hinduism/Sikhism/Buddhism/Jainism)
  • March 19 - 20, Eid-al-Fitr** (Islamic)
  • March 29, Palm Sunday (Christian)
  • April 1 - 9*, Passover (Pesach)** (Judaism)
  • April 3, Good/Holy Friday (Christian)
  • April 5, Easter** (Christian)
  • April 8, Japanese (Buddha Day) (Buddhism)
  • April 12, Pascha** (Orthodox Christian)
  • April 13 -14*, Yom HaShoah (Judaism)
  • May 1, Vesak (Buddha Day) (Buddhism)
  • May 21 - 23*, Shavuot (Judaism)
  • June 21, Summer Solstices (Traditions across the world)

*Jewish and Islamic observances begin at sundown the evening before the date listed

**Holy days on which absence from work or school is common

We would like for students, faculty, and staff to be aware of a broad range of religious observances. Students who are interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or other commitments, should contact their faculty or supervisors well in advance with such requests. Faculty should consider the impact of holy days on class attendance and assignments. Student Organizations, Administrative, and Academic Units should consider holy days when scheduling events and programming.

(This is not a comprehensive list but a guide to some of the closest locations).

Transportation: Churches in Bristol, Middletown, or Newport can be reached via RWU Shuttles or 

Baptist

  • Barrington Baptist Church
    25 Old Country Road, Barrington, RI 02806
     
  • First Baptist Church of Bristol
    250 High Street, Bristol, RI 02809
     
  • Community Baptist Church
    50 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Road, Newport, RI 02840
     
  • United Baptist Church
    30 Springs Street, Newport, RI 02840

Buddhist

  • Benevolent Street Zen Sangha (Soto)
    First Unitarian Church of Providence
    1 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906
     
  • The Buddhist Center of New England, Inc. 
    252 Public Street, Providence, RI 02905
     
  • Dhamagosgosnaram Buddhist Temple 
    2870 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI 02921
     
  • Providence Zen Center (Seon)
    99 Pound Road, Cumberland, RI 02864
     
  • Rhode Island Zen Dojo (Rinzai)
    Sage Healing Collaborative
    201 Waterman Avenue, East Providence RI 02914
     
  • Wat Lao Buddhovath of Rhode Island Inc. 
    88 Limerock Road, Smithfield, RI 02907
     
  • Wat Lao Xokexayyaram Buddhist Temple
    485 River Street, Woonsocket RI 02895
     
  • Watt Thornikaram Cambodian Khmer Temple
    Cambodian Society of Rhode Island
    178 Hanover Street, Providence RI 02907

Catholic

  • Holy Angels Catholic Church
    941 Maple Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806
     
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish
    141 State Street, Bristol, RI 02809
     
  • St. Elizabeth's Church
    577 Wood Street, Bristol, RI 02809
     
  • St. Mary's Parish of Bristol
    330 Wood Street, Bristol, RI 02809
     
  • St. Mary of the Bay
    645 Main Street, Warren, RI 02885

Christian

  • Cross Point Church
    14 Rhode Island Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
     
  • Mt. Hope Church
    Colt School Auditorium, 574 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Congregational

  • First Congregational Church
    300 High Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Episcopal

  • St. John's Episcopal Church
    191 County Road, Barrington, RI 02809
     
  • St. Michael's Episcopal Church
    399 Hope Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Jewish

  • Chabad House of Barrington-Newport (Chabad Lubavitch)
    311 Maple Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806
     
  • Congregation B'Nai Israel (Conservative)
    224 Prospect Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895
     
  • Temple Habonim (Reform)
    165 New Meadow Road, Barrington, RI 02806
     
  • Temple Shalom (Conservative)
    223 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842
     
  • Touro Synagogue (Orthodox)
    85 Touro Street, Newport, RI 02840
     
  • United Brothers Synagogue (Conservative)
    205 High Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Methodist

  • Barrington United Methodist Church
    230 Washington Road, Barrington, RI 02806
     
  • Portsmouth United Methodist Church
    2732 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871

Muslim

  • Brown-RISD Muslim Community
    Brown Muslims Students' Center
    Champlin Hall 018, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906
     
  • Masjid Al-Islam of Rhode Island
    40 Sayles Hill Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896
     
  • Masjid Al-Kareem (Islamic Center of RI)
    39 Haskins Street, Providence, RI 02903
     
  • Masjid Zumaratul Jannah
    801 Elmwood Avenue #3369, Providence, RI 02907

Presbyterian

  • First Presbyterian Church of Newport
    4 Everett Street, Newport, RI 02840

Unitarian

  • Channing Memorial Church
    135 Pelman Street, Newport, RI 02840