Yale College Summer Updates (July 26, 2024)

Religious Life image

July 26, 2024

Dear Class of 2028,

Although Yale has long been a secular institution, it attracts and supports students who are active in many different religious communities, and it is just as welcoming to students with no religious affiliation at all. To introduce you to the people, spaces, and programs that support religious and spiritual life at Yale, the university chaplain writes this week with a word of welcome — and a useful tip on where to find free ice cream whenever you like.

Sincerely,

Hannah Peck
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Yale College
(she/her)

July 26, 2024

Dear Yale Class of 2028,

Welcome to Yale! On behalf of the Chaplain’s Office, I am delighted to welcome you to our wonderful and diverse community. The Chaplain’s Office is a space of what we call radical hospitality, where you are always welcome. It is home for students of all religious traditions and those who do not identify with any tradition. Our vibrant religious and spiritual communities are here to support you through your college experience.
College affords you a meaningful, expansive opportunity to explore your own identity and interact with others coming from different cultures, backgrounds, and religious traditions. I encourage you to come to Yale with a sense of curiosity, exploration and humility. Develop spiritual practices that help sustain you and connect you to others. Find a community that feels like home for you and then explore and learn about other communities – religious, cultural, political, social, etc. During challenging times, the ties you build with each other will sustain you.

Where might you find community? There are so many religious spaces here to welcome you on campus.

The Chaplain’s Office is in Old Campus in the basement of Bingham D, as is the Hindu and Muslim Prayer Room. The rumors are true… we have free ice cream all the time!

Battell Chapel is the home to University Church in Yale, Taize prayers, and Orthodox Christian Vespers.

Breathing Space, in the basement of Welch C, is our technology-free space with both a meditation and creativity and spirituality room.

The Buddhist Shrine is in the base of Harkness Tower in Branford College.

Dwight Chapel hosts Hindu Pujas, Muslim Jummah services, Chi Alpha, the Episcopal Church at Yale and International Church at Yale.

The Slifka Center for Jewish Life and Chabad at Yale are home to our Jewish communities and the Slifka Center hosts the campus’ Kosher dining.

Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center is home to our Catholic community..

The Afro-American Cultural Center is home to the Black Church at Yale.

Many of our smaller religious communities find spaces in the residential colleges or classrooms to meet for community and prayer.

If you’re having trouble finding a religious or spiritual community to connect with or if you have questions, please reach out; we would be happy to help.

You also have access to a phenomenal group of religious professionals through the Yale Religious Ministries. They all serve religious communities that make up our diverse mosaic of religious and spiritual life on campus. I’ve listed their groups and linked them below.

As a reminder, please fill out our survey on religious affiliation. This survey helps us understand who you are and how we can offer support.

Complete survey

I hope that you will each show up as your full selves and contribute your unique perspectives and talents to our incredible community here at Yale. When we show up authentically and for one another we create a community based in mutual responsibility and respect. I am very excited to meet you all and will be out with my team of chaplains on move-in day with ice cream on Old Campus. Stop by and introduce yourselves. We’re thrilled you’re here and look forward to helping you make Yale your home.

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Chaplain Maytal Saltiel

Buddhist Life at Yale