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Spirituality

Woman at sea staring into distance

“Do not go outside yourself, but enter into yourself, for truth dwells in the interior self.” 

True Religion, 72, 102.

Inspired by the life and words of St. Augustine and other spiritual teachers, Campus Ministry welcomes you to encounter and deepen your sense of spirituality both through communal and personal practice and engagement. We provide opportunities for all members of our community to make room to see and hear the movement of the Divine within and around them.  Moments of retreat on and off campus, cultural celebrations with food and song, customized reflections and conversations on faith, meaning, and value, and regular opportunities to contemplate and pray are some of the paths we offer regularly.

On Campus Spiritual Practices 

person praying on a dock

Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is space for quiet, meditative prayer that cultivates a place of rest and attentive presence in the midst of our busy and distracted lives. We gather in a small group and sit quietly together. We invite you to join in person in the St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room (3rd floor) or  virtually on Zoom from 1 to 1:30 PM each Tuesday when classes are in session. All are welcome.  Contact Brian McCabe with any questions.

path through the woods

Prayers for Peace

Join us in the St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room on Fridays at 1pm to pray for peace in Israel/Gaza, Ukraine, and all regions and communities impacted by conflict and violence. These brief weekly gatherings will offer space for silent prayer as well as individual and shared intentions. All are welcome.

water rippling out

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a practice of focusing on the present moment and developing an increased awareness of experiences as they happen. Research has shown that mindfulness can improve quality of life, work performance, mental health, and physical well-being. We invite you to join us for mindfulness on Mondays from 1 to 1:30 PM in the St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room or on Zoom. All are welcome.

Jummah Prayer

All are welcome to attend Jummah, Muslim congregational prayer, held every Friday, 1:25 to 2 PM, in the Multifaith Prayer Room in St. Rita Hall. A sermon is offered by a local imam, followed by traditional prayer. Co-sponsored by the Muslim Students Association and Campus Ministry.

Multifaith Contemplative Practices Series

Campus Ministry will be hosting monthly opportunities to learn about and practice various contemplative experiences.  Each session will feature a practitioner sharing brief introduction and instruction, a time of practice, and question and answer followed by refreshments.

  • Jewish Chanting and Song, Monday 1/29, 4:30pm, St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room: What makes Jewish prayer...Jewish? Is it the language? The musical settings? The space in which it takes place?  Join Hazzan Harold Messinger, prayer leader at Congregation Beth Am Israel in Penn Valley to discuss all of that and experience a few examples of a contemporary Jewish prayer practice.
  • Gospel Music as Prayer and Praise, Monday 2/12, 7:30pm, Corr Chapel: Singing in the gospel music tradition has long been a source of solace and inspiration to the Black church and the wider Christian community. Join Villanova’s Gospel Choir and their director Ruth Winslow to learn about and experience this uplifting spiritual practice.

Spiritual Direction

Do you want to discover who God is for you in a deeper way? Spiritual direction is a time-tested tool that can help you do this. You can meet with a certified spiritual director once a month for one hour. During this session you would be guided to notice how God is moving in your life and how you can receive God's love and respond with integrity and generosity. For more information, please contact Brian McCabe.

Prayer and Meditation for Difficult Times

Prayer and mindfulness meditation practices have proven to be a source of comfort and calm during difficult times. We offer you the resources below. May they bring you peace.

Contemplative Outreach resource on Centering Prayer

Calm Clarity: A Mind-Hacker’s Guide to Calming Anxiety, Mindfulness Practices 

YouTube resources by Fr. Thomas Keating, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, Tara Brach, Pema Chodron