Interfaith Chaplaincy at USM
Supporting Religious and Spiritual Life in All its Expressions
USM's Interfaith Chaplaincy, housed in the small white farmhouse at 23 Brighton Ave, offers a dedicated staff of part-time chaplains from a wide variety of faith traditions. The chaplains work with student organizations and with individual students, and also collaborate to develop the Spirit of USM program. The Chaplaincy also provides A Space Apart, which is a quiet, private space set aside for religious or spiritual activities.
USM's support of the whole student's success and fulfillment in all aspects of life includes co-curricular learning in the spiritual dimension of beliefs, values, and ethics. We are intentional about offering Chaplaincy programs and services that support students in learning to be clear about their own beliefs; to connect their beliefs with their behaviors and choices; and to relate respectfully and fruitfully to those of different faiths. Through opportunities for belonging, learning, exploration and dialogue, students may explore their own beliefs and those of others as individuals within faith communities, the university and larger communities, and the world.
USM is a Welcoming Community!
Ramadan – August 22-September 21 Around the world and here at USM, Muslims observe the Holy Month of Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, commemorating the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad of the sacred text of Islam, the Koran (Quran). It is a period of intense worship and contemplation, marked by fasting from all food and drink (and from tobacco and sexual activity as well) from sunrise to sunset, and by increasing acts of compassion and devotion. It goes from new moon to new moon, so the precise end of the observance will depend upon the sighting of the next new moon. Each day's fast is ended with an Iftar, a celebratory meal, after the sun sets. An appropriate greeting for those observing Ramadan is "Ramadan Mubarak," or "A blessed Ramadan."Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur– September 19-28 With the setting of the sun on September 19, Rosh Hashana, literally "Head of the Year," begins, and the Jewish community enters the holiest of time in their religious year, frequently referred to as the "High Holidays." Marking the beginning of Tishri, the first month of the Jewish year (5770), it is observed as a time for new beginnings, initiating a period of intense reflection and repentance known as the Days of Awe. This period concludes with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on September 28. This is the most sacred observance for Jews, and families and communities gather for worship and celebration. We extend to our Jewish community members a greeting of "L'Shana Tova," or "Happy New Year," and invite you to join with our Jewish Associate Chaplain and the Jewish Community Alliance for their "Party Like It's 5769" Sunset Cruise. Call 772-1959 for details and reservations. A reminder that some students and others will need to be excused from regular obligations for these observances.
Eid al Fitr – September 20/21, The appearance of the new moon and the start of a new month in the Islamic calendar marks the conclusion of Ramadan with the Eid al Fitr, literally, the Feast of the Breaking of the Fast. It is the most sacred and festive time of the year for Islam. As Ramadan has been observed with daily fasting, Eid al Fitr is marked with large gatherings for prayers and the breaking of the fast with feasting, extended family and community gatherings, and the wearing of new clothes. Join in extending to Muslim friends hearty wishes of "Eid Mubarak!" or "Blessed Eid!"
Mabon – September 22 As the sun crosses the earth's equator, signaling the autumnal equinox and the astronomical end of summer and beginning of autumn, from ancient times to ours, followers of Pagan spiritual paths observe this Mabon, one of the eight Great Sabbats. At this time (as at the Spring Equinox, or Ostara), the days and nights are in balance - exactly the same length. Mabon is observed with reflection on balance, between darkness and light, action and reflection, striving and rest, and on change, as the turning of the wheel of the world and any forward movement must bring. It is also a time for remembering the dead, and for feasting and gratitude for the plenty of the arvest. Mabon begins the journey toward the Winter Solstice, with the shortest day and longest night of the year, and thus observes the waning of light and the growing darkness as an inevitable part of life's journey.
Sukkot – October 3 The eight day festive Jewish observance of Sukkot centers in the "Sukka," a simple shelter made from plant material (symbolic of the bounty of the earth), in which food and festivity is shared. Recalling the provision of God for the people of Israel during their wilderness wandering, it has become a celebration of the bounty of the earth and the harvest.
Diwali – October 17 The five day celebration of Diwali (also spelled Divali or Deepvali) is also known as the Hindu Festival of Lights. In some communities, it is dedicated to Laksmi, the Goddess of prosperity, and the celebration includes the thorough cleaning of homes, with doors and windows opened to welcome Laksmi. In India, "the origin of the festival is associated with the homecoming of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile in the forest, and it celebrates the victory of good (Lord Rama in this case) over bad (Daemons). The people welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name, Deepawali, or simply corrupted as Diwali."* The festival today features the illumination of many clay lamps which line the rooftops and are floated in ponds and down streams and rivers. There are, of course, more modern substitutes, but purists still use new clay lamps fueled with ghee, clarified butter. Each of the five days of the festival has its own emphasis, with the fourth day falling on the day of the lunar new year. Diwali is a very festive time, marked by spiritual devotion and reflection, but also with feasting and the exchange of gifts and many, many firecrackers and fireworks.
Birth of the Bab – October 20 On October 20th, Baha'is around the world celebrated the Birth of the Bab. One of eleven Holy Days in the Baha'i calendar, it commemorates the birth of the second most important figure in the history of the Baha'i faith. Born Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad in 1819 Persia, he became known as the herald of the Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah; thus, his title "Bab," meaning "Gateway." Baha’is generally observe this Holy Day by abstaining from work, and with gatherings for prayers, devotional readings, and music. We have a small representation of the Baha'i community on campus, and they are part of a larger network of Baha'is throughout Maine who gather mostly in each other's homes, but often at the beautiful Greenacre Baha'i Center in Eliot, Maine, one of only four such centers in the United States.
Samhain – October 31, is popularly known in the United States as Halloween, but it dates to the Celtic Pagan observance of Samhain (pronounced "sow-en.") It is the half-way point between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, the third and final harvest celebration, and therefore the last day of the old year. As (in the northern hemisphere, from whence these traditions originate) the earth is "dying," so Samhain includes emphasis on mortal death, and is believed to be the time when the veil between this world and the next is thinnest. It is therefore easy to see why the popular emphasis on things that "pierce the veil" between the living and the dead persists in images and tales of ghosts and ghouls. Samhain is the most important of the eight Great Sabbats for followers of Pagan spiritual paths, and is celebrated in a variety of ways, including celebrating the gifts of the harvest (especially apples, believed to have special magical properties) honoring the dead, mindful of the nearness of their spirits, and celebrating the turning of the wheel of the world and the seasons. Legends and stories embody the qualities of the cycle of life and death and rebirth. Related to Samhain is Hop-tu-Naa, a festival originating from the Celtic and Norse "Manx" traditions on the Isle of Man celebrating New Year's Eve and sharing roots with the Scottish New Year celebration of Hogmanay. The celebration of Hop-tu-Naa included children dressing up in scary costumes and parading from house to house to receive treats of money or sweets. They carried turnips (later Anglicized to pumpkins) with which they battered the doors of those who failed to give them treats in an apparent antecedent of "Trick or Treat!"
All Saints Day/All Souls Day – November 1/2 With the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the Roman Pagan observance of Samhain contributed to the Christian observance of All Saints Day on November 1, and of All Souls Day on November 2 (the difference in tradition being those beatified celebrated on All Saints and all others on All Souls). Many Christian traditions still observe these days as occasions for remembering and celebrating the lives of people of faith who have died and the nearness and inspiration of their spirits. These observances and the cycle of the seasons may remind us of the interplay of light and dark, life and death, waxing and waning, and the infinite balance that we cannot always see from our particular, situated place in the midst.
Birth of Baha’u’llah – November 12 The observance of the Birth of Baha'u'llah honors the prophet founder of the Baha’i faith.. Born in 1817 in Persia (modern day Iran) into a Shi'ite Muslim family, he was first a follower of Mizra Ali Muhammad, who became known as the Bab (Arabic for "Gateway"), and later established a comprehensive teaching and became the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith. His teachings focus on the unity of all religions and the kindred of all humanity, and Baha'is worldwide continue this teaching today. The day celebrating his birth is marked with feasting and celebration.
Nativity Fast – November 15-December 24 The Nativity Fast is a time of preparation for members of the Orthodox, or Eastern Rite, branches of Christianity, a 40 day period of fasting, penitence, and leading up to the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christmas. In some traditions, the fast is observed with abstinence from red meat, or from all animal products, including meat and dairy. In some traditions, the fast is lifted on Sundays. The Eve of Nativity, December 24th, is a strict fast day, on which no solid food is permitted before the Vesperal Divine Liturgy on that day.
Hajj, Eid al Adha – November 25, 27 The Hajj is the pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia that every adult Muslim is obligated to make at least once in her or his lifetime if physically and financially able to do so. Annually, millions of Muslim pilgrims converge upon Mecca to participate in the ritual walk counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, toward which Muslims all over the world face to pray. The Hajj is the fifth of the required practices known as the Five Pillars of Islam. The others are: confession of faith in God and in the prophet Muhammad; ritual worship (Selat) five times daily; giving of alms for the poor; and fasting during Ramadan. Eid al Adha, celebrated at the conclusion of the Hajj by Muslims whether making the pilgrimage or not, commemorates the ransom with a ram of Ibrahim’s son Ishmael, whom Allah (God) had required as a sacrifice, honoring Ibrahim's willingness to be obedient to Allah. The celebration of Eid al Ahda is four days long, and Muslims dress in their finest clothing to perform the Eid prayers at mosques (and other gathering places in locations such as ours where the Mosques are not large enough). As Ibraham offered his son, Muslims offer sacrifices, mostly of sheep or goats, and give meat to the poor, making sure no Muslim, however poor, is without ritually sacrificed meat during the Eid. Remaining meat is roasted for family celebrations, including feasting and family visits. An appropriate greeting for Eid al Adha is "Eik Mubarak" (pronounced "eed moo-bar-ack"), meaning "Blessed Eid."
Thanksgiving – November 26 A national holiday with religious overtones, Thanksgiving celebrated by most in the U.S. as a time to reflect upon and celebrate with gratitude the bounty of the earth and of our own lives. It dates to a harvest festival in 1621 in the community of early settlers known as Pilgrims, repeated in 1623 and 1676 in celebration of particularly beneficent weather or good harvests, and in October 1777 in celebration of the colonial victory over the British at Saratoga. In 1789 President George Washington proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving, but it did not become a fixture until after a 40 year campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale, editor and writer in the Boston Ladies' Magazine and Godley's Lady's Book. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared an annual day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November, and in 1941 when Congress declared Thanksgiving a legal holiday on the 4th Thursday of November. Today, Thanksgiving is the most heavily traveled holiday of the year in this country, celebrated with gatherings of family and friends, and with feasting. It bears mentioning that virtually every cultural and religious tradition has some version of a harvest festival, from ancient Celts and Romans to African and Asian cultures of today. Perhaps contemplating this, along with our many and bounteous blessings, will help us feel our connection to the whole human family and give thanks for this as well.
Day of the Covenant – November 26 The Day of the Covenant in the Baha'i Faith celebrates the Covenant given in the last will and testament of Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i faith, which emphasizes universal fellowship and the unity of humankind. It also recalls his appointment of his son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha as the Center of His Covenant. The day is observed with gathering for teaching, prayer, and feasting, but work is not necessarily suspended.
Advent – November 30-December 24 This four week season of reflection, penitence, and prayer is a Christian time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Even in the face of early shopping and jingling bells, the message of Advent is one of alert, but patient, waiting for the coming of the divine realm. In many Christian traditions, Advent is observed with the lighting of four candles on the Advent wreath, one each week until all are lit, and with reading and reflection on prophecies of the coming, or advent, of a savior who would bring a realm of justice and peace.
Hanukkah – December 12-19 The Jewish observance of Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrates the Jewish victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE. Three years earlier, the Syrian King Anticochus had forced the Hebrew people to abandon their religion and customs and to adopt the worship of Greek gods. The Talmud tells that in seeking to relight the sanctuary lamp, or menorah, for the rededication, the Macabees found they had only enough oil to burn for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, providing time enough to prepare more. Beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, Hanukkah (meaning “rededication”) is celebrated for eight days. During this time, the eight candles of the menorah are lit, one each night, commemorating the eight-day miracle. Small gifts are sometimes exchanged, and children play games, such as the dreidl game. Traditional foods include potato latkes. Although it is a festive time, Hankuuah is not among the most significant religious observances in the Jewish year.
Las Pasadas – December 16-24 The Hispanic Christian celebration of Posadas, or Posadas Navideñas commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in preparation for the birth of Jesus. Traditions include processions reenacting their search for lodging ("Posadas" means "inns" or "lodging places") with three symbolic requests for lodging, the final one being granted and thus the location of the feast. Prayers are said at Nativity scenes, followed by singing of traditional songs, parties for children, and feasting on traditional foods.
Yule/Winter Solstice – December 21 As astronomical winter begins, Solstice marks the longest night followed by the shortest day of the year. It was and is observed by ancient and contemporary Pagans, following earth-reverencing spiritual paths as Yule, which literally means “wheel.” The reference is to the turning of the wheel of the year, from the Dark Time to the Time of Strengthening Light. In legend, the battle of two kings is played out in part on the night of the Winter Solstice. The Holly King and the Oak King do battle to determine who will reign over the year. The Holly King triumphs and rules the Growing, or Light time of the year. They will again do battle at the Midsummer Solstice, where the Oak King will triumph and rule over the Dark, or dying time of the year. Yule is celebrated with decorations of evergreen, with the lighting of fires and candles, with the burning of the Yule Log, and with feasting and celebration, welcoming the return of the light and warmth as the sun strengthens. In the Pagan Roman Empire, these traditions were reflected in the festival of Saturnalia, dedicated to the god Saturn, which was observed on December 17 became a full week of celebration, including holidays from school and work, the exchanging of gifts - some small and some extravagant - and relaxed social conventions, giving way to drinking, gambling, role reversals (master to slave, etc.) and sexual permissiveness. This may be the basis of the traditional "Twelve Days of Christmas," as Rome became Christian by Constantine's fiat.
Christmas/Feast of Nativity – December 25th, is Christmas (or the Feast of the Nativity in Orthodox Christian communities). Although controversial in early Christian history and popularized and secularized in American culture, it centers in the celebration of the birth of Jesus, in Bethlehem in Judea, about 3 CE. He was a descendant of the great King David of Israel, and seen as heir to David’s throne. He is embraced by Christians as Messiah, the anointed one or incarnation of God, whose teachings are of justice and peace. Familiar traditional stories and songs of his birth in Bethlehem have many symbolic meanings, including that he was born to the humble and poor and that local common folk were the first to greet him, followed by angels and the wise and wealthy from distant lands. The traditional gifts of those magi, or three kings, are laden with symbolic meaning: gold indicates royalty; frankincense represents prayer; and myrrh, used for burial, presages death. Christmas is celebrated by decorating with evergreens, notably the Christmas tree, with special services of worship, with the exchange of gifts, and with family and community gatherings and special meals.
Kwanzaa – December 26-January 1 Tuesday, December 26th is the first day of Kwanzaa. A contemporary and uniquely African American cultural tradition, it was created in the 1960s by Dr. Maulana Karenga, out of the American Civil Rights movement and the desire of African Americans to reconnect with the values and traditions of their African ancestry. Using Swahili, which is the trade, or common language among Africans, Kwanzaa celebrates seven principles, or Nguzo Saba (“en-goo-zoh sah-bah”), which are: Umoja, which is Unity; Kujichagulai , meaning Self-Determination; Ujima, which is Collective Work and Responsibility; Ujamaa, meaning Cooperative Economics; Nia (“nee-ah”), or Purpose; Kuumba, which is Creativity; and Imani, meaning Faith. Each of the principles is symbolized by one of the seven candles in the Kinara, which are lighted progressively throughout the seven day festival, which emphasizes family and community gatherings.
Ashura – December 27 Parts of the Muslim world, notably the Shi'ite, observe Ashura, a one-day fast originally declared by Muhammad in 622 CE as a day of ritual atonement. It later came to be a commemoration of the martyrdom of Husayn (Hussain), son of Ali and grandson of Muhammad, in 680 CE in Karbala. It is observed with expressions of grief, processions, including ritual pilgrimage to Karbala, and assemblies inspired by the slogan, "Every day is Ashura, every place is Karbala."
Each of these observances is sacred to those who keep it, and our consideration will help make USM a truly welcoming community for all!
To contact the Interfaith Chaplaincy, call 228-8093, email interfaith@usm.maine.edu, or simply stop by--the office is open and generally staffed weekdays from 8 to 5. Office space and staff are shared with the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement.
