The University of Massachusetts Boston is a university with a large variety of both nonacademic—and academic—related resources available to their students. Many students on campus go through their day-to-day lives facing some kind of struggle. Those struggles could include hunger, homelessness, adjusting to college, financial problems, chronic poverty, family problems, etc. Anyone from the UMass Boston community may be facing a number of different nonacademic-related struggles including the list above. The most important thing for students who are facing nonacademic-related struggles is not to be ashamed, but instead to speak up and seek help. It’s also important to recognize that students have a variety of different ways of coping with their daily struggles; and one way could be turning to their practiced religion. Many UMass Boston students are not aware that the university provides a safe space for the UMass Boston community to practice their religion right here on campus daily.
The Interfaith Campus Ministry is a place on campus where all students, staff, and faculty are able to go to free their mind in a sense. Everyone is welcome to use and enjoy the space the Campus Ministry provides in order to practice personal prayer, meditate, take a step back from everything that is going on to hear the inner voice of wisdom, seek pastoral care, counseling and spiritual direction, and spend time in worship with others. In addition to the offering of a safe and open space, the Campus Ministry also offers weekly small and large group activities. These activities include Meditation Mondays, Zen Buddhist Meditation Tuesdays, Catholic Mass on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and Muslim Jumu’ah on Fridays. In addition to weekly activities, there are annual events hosted by the Campus Ministry such as the Festival of Lights, open mic, open house, and the Multicultural Harvest Festival that took place this year on Nov. 5, 2018. In May 2019, the campus ministry will also be hosting their annual Senior Blessing and Year End Celebration. We encourage the UMass Boston community to take advantage of this hidden gem, because it is conveniently on campus for anyone to use as a resource—especially in times of serious need. Come join the quiet party at the Interfaith Campus Ministry Center. If connecting with your inner self is preferred, then come on down to the Interfaith Sanctuary and participate in all that is offered. The light spiritual recharge can be just what you need to get over the midterm blues. Stop by and be spiritually inspired to take the rest of your day head on.
The Interfaith Center Sanctuary
McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor, (Ryan Lounge)
Sanctuary: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Prayer Space: Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Staff: Reverend Adrienne Berry-Burton
[email protected]
617-287-5838
Deacon Tam Tran, Father Paul Helfrich
[email protected]; [email protected]
617-287-5839
Mondays:
Circle Time Meditation mindfulness with soft music, breathing, light stretching, and imagery – 11:30 a.m. to 1200 p.m. or 12:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m.
UMass Boston Gospel Choir – 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Labyrinth Walk  (Occasionally, as advertised) – 12:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesdays:
Zen Buddhist Meditation – 12:30 p.m.
With Prof. Julie Nelson, Facebook-UMBZEN
Wednesdays:
Catholic Mass – 12:30 p.m.
Thursdays:
Catholic Mass – 12:30 p.m.
Fridays:
Muslim Jumu’ah – 1:30 p.m.