The Tufts University Chaplaincy is a dynamic hub supporting religious, spiritual, ethical, and cultural life for all members of the Tufts community. The University Chaplaincy provides pastoral care, supports religious and philosophical communities, educates about spiritual and ethical issues in society and the world, and promotes multi-faith engagement.
Tufts Chaplains
At Tufts, chaplains provide pastoral care. Chaplains are confidential resources on campus. Chaplains have specialized training to support spiritual and religious questions and needs, identity formation, and grief and loss processing; our chaplains are trained to support any student, of any religious or philosophical identity. Tufts has a dedicated team including an Africana Spirituality Advisor, Buddhist Chaplain, Catholic Chaplain, Hindu Advisor, Humanist Chaplain, Jewish Chaplain, Muslim Chaplain, and Protestant Chaplain. You can learn more about each of them here.
Student Organizations
The Tufts campuses are home to 12 -15 religious and philosophical student organizations, and you are welcome to join a gathering any time. Most groups meet weekly, and regular programming includes meditation, worship, conversations, and study. Student groups include Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha, Catholic Community at Tufts, Chabad at Tufts, COFFEE (Community OF Faith Exploration and Engagement), Hindu Student Council, Humanist Community at Tufts, Muslim Student Association, and Protestant Student Association. You can find student contact information on this page. Tufts also has an active Hillel, and you can find more on their website. Students can join programming to practice their faith or simply to learn from others. If you are interested in forming a new group, you can always reach out to the University Chaplaincy.
Annual Programs
In addition to weekly student group programming, the University Chaplaincy hosts events for the Tufts community to engage in. Fall semester concerts, observances for The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Russell Lecture on Spiritual Life, and the Baccalaureate Ceremony are hosted annually to gather and engage the whole community. With our chaplains, we celebrate and observe days from various traditions including Diwali, Advent, Earth Day, Lent, Buddha Day, Eid, and more. You can always find out more on the Chaplaincy website.
Interfaith Opportunities
Interfaith programs on campus, include CAFE Pre-Orientation Program and the Interfaith Student Council, which students to engage with one another's beliefs and engage in reflective models of learning.
CAFE: Conversation, Action, Faith, and Education
CAFE is an award-winning pre-orientation program that brings together incoming first-year students and upperclassmen leaders from diverse religious, non-religious, spiritual, and ethical identities. The common thread? A passion for understanding and creating change in ourselves and our communities. CAFE participants have the opportunity to explore the Boston area on field trips to local religious and cultural gathering places, experience a variety of religious and philosophical practices at Tufts, strengthen leadership skills, and meet with local advocacy and social justice groups. We believe that the time of transition to a college campus can be a time for transformation, too. Learn more in the video below!
For more information, and to view upcoming programming, visit the Tufts University Chaplaincy website and find us on Facebook and Instagram.