Spiritual Life Programs and Organizations

Spiritual Life hosts an annual Habitat for Humanity trip during the winter break to a regional location, such as Springfield, MA or Bridgeport, CT.  For one week, students and staff travel to a Habitat site to work on a home at whatever stage the process may be in, providing time and energy to contribute to the final project.  The group spends significant time on site, but also spends time daily reflecting on the experiences as an individual and a group.  Applications are available for any eligible student beginning in the fall semester.

Spiritual Life also partners with the Bentley Service Learning Center to provide information on the spiritual component of community service.  Student project managers and staff are encouraged to be mindful of the spiritual questions that often arise during community service efforts.

As community members of a business university, we strive to partner with the academic curricula about the moral, ethical, and possible spiritual implications of decision making and social responsibility.  The Spiritual Life Center hopes to provide avenues for students to link community service efforts with a wider awareness for our neighbors and the needs of the world, which utilizing ethical business practices and strategies. For more information regarding Bentley's Center for Business Ethics, check out their website.

One of the best aspects of a secular university is the chance to explore religion and spirituality without any particular affiliation with any tradition or practice.  The Spiritual Life Center makes a commitment to on-going dialogue and education about the traditions on our campus, while exploring spiritual concepts such as Who am I? Who do I want to become? How do I want to live my life?

 

Spiritual Life, Residence Life, and the Diversity Council sponsor a monthly program called Spot o' Tea, which allows for face to face conversation around some "hot topics" in contemporary religion and spirituality.  Past topics have included: understanding the difference between religion and spirituality, the traditions around Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, and spirituality of Tim Tebow, and using spirituality as a tool for stress reduction.

Spiritual Life also hosts a semesterly advisory board meeting to consult faculty/staff and students on the best practices and ideas around how best to support spiritual development on campus.  If you are interested in joining, please email Maria DiLorenzo.

In addition to liturgy, we provide Catholic students, faculty and staff with opportunities to socialize and enrich their faith through workshops, prayer retreats, guest speakers, and celebration of the sacraments.

Charitable projects, food and clothing collections and outreach to those in need help integrate our Catholic community with the larger community. Liturgies, programs, discussions, social and cultural activities, counseling and peer ministry all encourage the personal development of students as they integrate their college experience with their Catholic identity.

The student organization Catholic Campus Connection unites Catholic students students in a common search for mutual support and friendships.  RENEW, a weekly student led scripture study, meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Sacred Space.  For more information, contact Christian Stahlman and Patricia Guiao, co-presidents of the CCC.

The Protestant fellowship at Bentley provides students, faculty and staff with spiritual support and guidance in the university environment. We encourage spiritual growth through weekly worship services, Bible studies, prayer services, fellowship nights, community services, and pastoral counseling.

We offer students opportunities to celebrates seasons of the Christian year such as Christmas, Lent and Easter. Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of each month. The Protestant chaplain also recognizes and celebrates denominational differences in worship services, and provides referrals for local Protestant churches.

On campus, Protestant spiritual life is supported by the Bentley Christian Fellowship for students.  For more information, contact Angel King, president of BCF.

Hillel serves the social, cultural and religious needs of Jewish students and staff at Bentley. Activities include periodic Sunday brunches, holiday gatherings, Zedakah social justice activities, Friday night dinners, and fourth Friday Kabbalat Shabbat services. Other opportunities include direct participation in the activities of the Spiritual Life Center.

In the past, Bentley has participated in the Birthright program, taking students to Israel to build a student's Jewish identity, understanding, friendship, and reinforce the solidarity of Jewish people all across the world.  A powerful experience for many, Birthright can be further explored by contacting Rabbi Foust or learning more from their website.

Jewish students and staff at Bentley have a standing invitation to participate in all activities, including daily morning services, at Waltham's Temple Beth Israel. They also are encouraged to explore intercampus activities and trips sponsored by the Hillel Council of New England. For more information, contact Josh Sukonnik, president of Hillel.

Buddhism is a relatively new philosophy in America, and even newer to the Bentley campus.  As interest develops, we are happy to offer dharma talks (discussions of Buddhist ideas), one-on-one meetings, and field trips to Buddhist events in the Boston area. Books and articles on the various forms of Buddhism are also available inside Room 325 of the Student Center.

One of the fundamental practices of Buddhism is seated meditation, and all Bentley community members interested in reflection, contemplation and quietude are welcome to join our meditation sitting group. There are sittings once a week (Wednesdays at 12:45pm in the Sacred Space), with instruction always available. Please contact Professor Pierce Butler for more information.

The Muslim adviser, on a requested basis, assists students, faculty and staff with both individual and collective Islamic development. The adviser can provide information on:

• local masjids
• local vendors who sell halal products
• local eid celebrations

The aim of the Muslim Umma (community) at Bentley is to strive to better serve The Most High, Allah (SAW). As an umma, it attempts this through:

• regularly scheduled Jumma prayer
• Ramadan observance: an aftar (daily breaking of fast) and mahgrib prayer

The Bentley Islamic Community also addresses a variety of Islamic needs on campus for students. For more information, contact Fariba Shamim or Abdulla AlBadi AlDhaheri, co-presidents of the BIC.