Title:Current-Use Gifts to Campus Ministry

The challenges during this pandemic year came in tandem with a special milestone for the Society of Jesus. May 20, 2021, marked the 500-year anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s “cannonball moment,” when he sustained a life-threatening and disabling injury from cannon fire. After a long isolation brought about by his convalescence in his childhood home, Ignatius emerged a transformed man, determined to put aside his life as a soldier and courtier, and turn to a life in service to God.

The long isolation of the COVID-19 global health crisis required its own sort of transformation, with Georgetown’s Office of Mission & Ministry redoubling its efforts and creativity to keep the community connected, engaged, and supported, and to ensure spiritual continuity.

Faith programs continued online, and all of the chaplains were available for pastoral visits on Zoom or Facetime. Most chaplains met with five to eight students each weekday during the year to offer support, comfort, and guidance.

The popular ESCAPE retreat for first-year and transfer students went virtual. Though students missed the opportunity to gather together at Georgetown’s Calcagnini Center in rural Virginia, many incoming students said these virtual retreats were their first chance to make new college friends outside of Zoom classes.

In addition to spiritual offerings, construction projects were completed on four sacred spaces on the Hilltop. Taking advantage of a largely empty campus, contractors were able to finish renovation work on the Copley Crypt Chapel and St. William Chapel. The university also added the Masjid Muslim Prayer Room in Village C and the Dharmalaya in the Leavey Center. Ongoing work will bring upgrades to the Jewish Makóm, including a new kosher-ready kitchen space.

Catholic Ministry

Over the past year and a half, the Office of Mission & Ministry has invited thousands of students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff to tune in to a variety of faith programs from around the world.

“During the long siege of the pandemic, Mission & Ministry provided over 80 live-streamed Masses from Dahlgren Chapel through our Facebook page, allowing Hoyas in every time zone around the world to come together virtually each Sunday,” said Father Mark Bosco, Vice President of Mission & Ministry. “So much of the costly technical work was supported by current-use funding from parents and alumni. This spring, a small number of students enrolled in our on-campus testing protocols so they could attend Mass, including the Easter Triduum, when nine students were initiated into the Church, and another eight received their confirmation.”

Transition back to on-campus life began with the Summer Hilltop Immersion Program (SHIP) for rising sophomores and transfer students having their first experiences at Georgetown. Participants joined a version of the ESCAPE retreat and worship services too.

“I was very thankful for the opportunity to attend SHIP,” said Karina Reilly (NHS’24). “One of the highlights of my summer was attending Mass in person at Dahlgren Chapel. I found it to be a very special introduction to the spiritual community at Georgetown. After that wonderful Mass, I had the opportunity to meet classmates in person in the courtyard—classmates I had only known via Zoom at that point. I look forward to many more Masses at Dahlgren, and having many more conversations in the courtyard!”

Jewish Ministry

After beginning Passover services on Zoom in Spring 2020, Jewish students joined in weekly online shabbat services led by Rabbi Rachel Gartner.

Rabbi Gartner fondly recounted a year of online programs providing a faith connection: “The Rays of light shining through virtual reality include the myriad faces I see each Shabbat, each Monday Meditation, each Tuesday Schmooze, and each Thursday Let’s [Not Just] Talk series on the most pressing issues of the day. Imagine students, and sometimes their parents and even pets(!) all packed into Zoom squares, following Shabbat services, singing and sharing joys and sorrows. It is profoundly moving to behold.”

Muslim Ministry

Muslim Life at Georgetown offered virtual programming even through the Holy Month of Ramadan. Imam Yahya Hendi, director of Muslim Life delivered daily reflections online and recorded a Friday Jum’ah sermon to share weekly via Facebook.

Many alumni and parents made sadaqah gifts. Their generosity has allowed final work to begin on the beautiful new Masjid in Village C. The new space will include the addition of the 99 names of Allah on tiles and completing the wudu stations.

Orthodox Christian Ministry

Orthodox students have been active throughout the year and Great Lent. Fr. David Pratt, director of Orthodox Campus Ministry, led many online discussions on this year’s theme of Faith and Science.

An online retreat was held in a shortened format called Pause and Refresh, which was well received by Georgetown students coming from various Christian backgrounds. The Orthodox Christian Ministry prepared students for Palm Sunday, Christ’s sacred Entrance into Jerusalem, and the spiritual duties of Holy Week and Pascha.

Dharmic Ministry

Brahmachari Sharan, director of Dharmic Life, has maintained #SpiritualContinuity by “reimagining celebrations for the virtual world.” Activities included regular meditation, talks, and weekly Āratī services via livestream.

The community is excited about the new Dharmic Prayer Room in the centrally located Leavey Center. It is to be the first Dharmalaya on any U.S. college campus and will be dedicated to all Dharmic traditions, including Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh practices.

“A highlight of the year was the first entry service on Zoom for our new Dharmalaya,” said Sharan. “Students, alumni, and parents joined this event from around the world.”

“The creation of the Dharmalaya represents the Georgetown community’s focus on understanding other religions and cultures,” he explained in a 2019 interview with The Hoya. “I think it represents Georgetown’s earnest desire to understand more about the world, starting with understanding its students.”