Spirituality and Religious Life
Spirituality and
Religious Life
A place where you belong!
Spirituality and Religious Life at RIT cultivates engaged and vibrant religious, secular, and spiritual communities that explore deep questions of purpose, meaning, and value.
We work directly with faith-based organizations and collaborate with student-led clubs that support the spiritual and religious community at RIT. No matter what your spiritual, religious, or secular identity may be, all of our chaplains and program staff can provide you with support and guidance.
Our vision is for every member of our campus to experience the welcoming, caring, and fun atmosphere of a supportive community that enables them to grow into their best selves and put their values to work in the world.
Faith Communities
Please contact Spirituality and Religious Life for more information on additional off-campus faith communities and resources.
Observances and Accommodations
Spiritual holidays and observances are important events for valuable members of the RIT community. Students may request accommodations to observe these holidays. RIT policy D04.0 Attendance states: "Absences, for whatever reason, do not relieve students of their responsibility for fulfilling normal requirements in any course. In particular, it is the student's responsibility to make individual arrangements in advance of missing class due to personal obligations such as religious holidays...in order that he or she may meet his or her obligations without penalty for missing class."
*Please note that some of the holidays below dictate that no work be completed on a particular date or set of dates. Regarding assignments, papers, quizzes, and exams, please make every effort to work with students to accommodate these observant requests within reason.
Additionally, employees of the university are also able to request accommodations in writing, alluding to the following statement within the Employee Attendance Religious Accommodation Policy: “RIT respects the religious beliefs and/or practices of all employees and will make reasonable accommodations where such beliefs or practices conflict with an employee’s job requirements in order to eliminate that conflict.”
The list of holidays below is not meant to be exhaustive. There are many other observances based upon the myriad of spiritual and/or religious traditions throughout the world. For descriptions of each of the holidays, please visit Harvard Divinity School's Multifaith Calendar. To learn more about each of these traditions and more, please visit The Pluralism Project from Harvard University.
*Please note that those holidays listed in bold below are those where a fast is required, special worship is warranted, or work is forbidden.
- Green Corn Ceremony (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): July-August 2024
- Sun Dance Ritual (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): July-August 2024
- H.H. Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso Birth Date (Buddhism): July 6, 2024
- Islamic New Year / First of Muḥarram (Islam): July 7-8, 2024
- Ashara Mubaraka (Islam): July 7-16, 2024
- Martyrdom of the Báb (Baháʼí): July 9, 2024
- Imamat Day (Islam): July 11, 2024
- 'Āshūrā’ (Islam): July 16-17, 2024
- Chaturmas (Hinduism, Jainism): July 17-November 12, 2024
- Āsāḷha Pūjā (Buddhism): July 20, 2024
- Dhamma Day (Buddhism): July 20, 2024
- Buck Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): July 21, 2024
- Guru Purnima (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism): July 21, 2024
- Urs Syedna Hatim Mohyuddin (Islam): July 22, 2024
- Vassa / Rains Retreat (Buddhism): July 23-October 17, 2024
- Pioneer Day (Latter Day Saint movement): July 24, 2024
- Oh-Harai-Taisai (Shintoism): July 30, 2024
- Hopi Snake Dance (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): August 2024
- Native Wild Rice Harvest (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): August-September 2024
- Lughnasadh or Lammas (Paganism): August 1, 2024
- Dormition Fast (Christianity): August 1-14, 2024 / August 7-22, 2024 / August 14-28, 2024
- Transfiguration of Jesus Christ / Feast of the Transfiguration (Christianity): August 6, 2024
- Fravardeghan Days (Zoroastrianism): August 8-17, 2024
- Naga Panchami (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism): August 9, 2024
- Sea Org Day (Scientology): August 12, 2024
- Tisha B’Av (Judaism): August 12-13, 2024
- Assumption of Mary, Solemnity / Dormition of the Theotokos (Christianity): August 15, 2023
- Naw-Rúz (Baháʼí, Zoroastrianism): August 18, 2024 / March 20, 2025
- Ulambana / Ghost Festival (Buddhism): August 18, 2024
- Blue Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): August 19, 2024
- Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism): August 19, 2024
- Birthday of Prophet Zoroaster / Khordad Sal (Zoroastrianism): August 20, 2024 / March 26, 2024
- Arba'een (Islam): August 25-26, 2024
- Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism): August 26-27, 2024
- Paryushana / Dashalakshani Parva (Jainism): August 31-September 7, 2024 / September 8-17, 2024
- Sunrise Dance (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): September 2024
- Beginning of the Liturgical Year (Christianity): September 1, 2024
- First Parkash Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikhism): September 1, 2024
- Birthday of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Buddhism): September 2, 2024
- Onam (Hinduism): September 5-14, 2024
- Birth Date of H.H. Sakya Trizin (Buddhism): September 7, 2024
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism): September 7, 2024
- Samvatsari (Jainism): September 7, 2024
- Auditors' Day (Scientology): September 8, 2024
- Nativity of the Theotokos / Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christianity): September 8, 2024 / September 21, 2024 / May 9, 2025
- Anniversary of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution (Buddhism): September 12, 2024
- Ghambar Paitishem (Zoroastrianism): September 12-16, 2024
- Elevation of the Holy Cross / Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Christianity): September 14, 2024 / September 27, 2024
- Mawlid an-Nabi (Islam): September 15-16, 2024
- Anant Chaturdashi / Ganesh Visarjan (Hinduism, Jainism): September 16-17, 2024
- Harvest Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): September 17, 2024
- Pitru Paksha (Hinduism): September 17-October 2, 2024
- Ksamavani (Jainism): September 18, 2024
- Festival of Higan-e (Buddhism): September 19-25, 2024
- International Day of Peace (Interfaith): September 21, 2024
- Shuki sorei sai (Shintoism): September 21, 2024
- Eihei Dogen Kigen Memorial (Buddhism): September 22, 2024
- Mabon or Autumn Equinox (Paganism): September 22, 2024
- Shūbun-no-hi (Shintoism): September 22, 2024
- San Geronimo Day (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): September 30, 2024
- Iroquois Harvest Ceremony (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): October 2024
- Rosh Hashanah (Judaism): October 2-4, 2024
- Navaratri (Hinduism): October 3-12, 2024
- Bodhidharma Memorial (Buddhism): October 5, 2024
- World Communion Day (Christianity): October 6, 2024
- International Association of Scientologists Day (Scientology): October 7, 2024
- Milad Imam-uz-Zamaan (Islam): October 7, 2024
- Durga Puja (Hinduism): October 9-13, 2024
- Navpad Oli (Jainism): October 10-17, 2024
- Yom Kippur (Judaism): October 11-12, 2024
- Dusserah (Hinduism): October 12, 2024
- Ghambar Ayathrem (Zoroastrianism): October 12-16, 2024
- Nichiren Shonin Memorial (Buddhism): October 13, 2024
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): October 14, 2024
- Sukkot (Judaism): October 16-23, 2024
- Hunter's Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): October 17, 2024
- Kaṭhina Cībar Dān (Buddhism): October 17-November 15, 2024
- Atmasiddhi Rachna Divas (Jainism): October 18, 2024
- Urs Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam): October 19, 2024
- Karva Chauth (Hinduism): October 19-20, 2024
- Installation of Holy Scriptures as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikhism): October 20, 2024
- Mehragan (Zoroastrianism): October 20, 2024
- Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (Islam): October 23, 2024
- Shemini Atzeret (Judaism): October 23-25, 2024
- Simchat Torah (Judaism): October 24-25, 2024
- Diwali / Deepavali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism): October 30-November 3, 2024
- Reformation Day (Christianity): October 31, 2024
- Samhain (Paganism): October 31-November 1, 2024
- National Native American Heritage Month (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): November 2024
- Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhism): November 1, 2024
- Lokashah Jayanti (Jainism): November 1, 2024
- Mahavira Nirvana (Jainism): November 1, 2024
- Solemnity of All Saints / All Saints' Sunday (Christianity): November 1, 2024 / June 15, 2025
- Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Christianity): November 2, 2024
- Govardhan Puja (Hinduism): November 2, 2024
- New Year / Enlightenment Day of Gautamswami (Jainism): November 2, 2023
- Vikram Samvat New Year (Hinduism, Jainism): November 2, 2024 / April 14, 2025
- Twin Holy Birthdays (Baháʼí): November 2-3, 2024
- Birth of the Báb (Baháʼí): November 2, 2024
- Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Baháʼí): November 3, 2024
- Gyan Panchami (Jainism): November 6, 2024
- Birth Date of Shrimad Rajchandra (Jainism): November 9, 2024
- Feast of the Einherjar / Ancestors' Blót (Paganism): November 11, 2024
- Beaver Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): November 15, 2024
- Birth Date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikhism): November 15, 2024
- Dev Deepawali / Kartika Purnima (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism): November 15, 2024
- Parvarana (Buddhism): November 15, 2024
- Nativity Fast / Fast of the Prophets (Christianity): November 15-December 24, 2024 / November 24, 2024-January 7, 2025
- Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Presentation of the Theotokos (Christianity): November 21, 2024
- Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikhism): November 24, 2024
- Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christianity): November 24, 2024
- Day of the Covenant (Baháʼí): November 24-25, 2024
- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Baháʼí): November 26-27, 2024
- Native American Heritage Day (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality): November 29, 2024
- Advent (Christianity): December 1-December 24, 2024
- Feast of Saint Nicholas (Christianity): December 6, 2024 / December 19, 2024
- Bodhi Day (Buddhism): December 8, 2024 / January 7, 2025
- Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christianity): December 8, 2024
- Asarah B’Tevet (Judaism): December 10, 2025
- Gita Mahotsav / Gita Jayanti (Hinduism): December 11, 2024
- Maunajiyaras (Jainism): December 11, 2024
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Christianity): December 12, 2024
- Aga Khan’s Birthday (Islam): December 13, 2024
- Karthika Deepam (Hinduism): December 13, 2024
- Cold Moon (Aboriginal, First Nation, Indigenous Spirituality, Paganism): December 15, 2024
- Sanghamitta Day (Buddhism): December 15, 2024
- Yud Tet Kislev (Judaism): December 20, 2023
- Pancha Ganapati (Hinduism): December 21-25, 2024
- Yule or Winter Solstice (Paganism): December 21, 2024-January 1, 2025
- Hanukkah (Judaism): December 25, 2024-January 2, 2025
- Tohji-Tasai (Shintoism): December 22, 2024
- Joseph Smith’s Birthday (Latter Day Saint movement): December 23, 2024
- Nativity of the Lord / Nativity of Christ (Christianity): December 25, 2024 / January 6, 2025 / January 7, 2025
- Zartosht No-Diso (Zoroastrianism): December 26, 2024
- Urs Syedna Qutbuddin Shaheed (Islam): December 28, 2024
- New Year’s Celebration (Scientology): December 31, 2024
- Ghambar Maidyarem (Zoroastrianism): December 31, 2024-January 4, 2025
Team
Chaplains
Chaplains are trained to listen, care, and have deep conversations about difficult topics in places where people are often stressed or distressed. Some of these may include the meaning of life, our purpose in the world, personal values and relationships, ethical dilemmas, and many other common human problems, regardless of whether you think of these things spiritually, religiously, or secularly.
Imam Abdur Rauf Bawany, MD
Muslim Student Life Chaplain
rxbcpm@rit.edu
585-281-7941
SMT-2406
*Confidential Resource
Andrew Cirillo
Rabbi Yossef Cohen
Chabad at RIT Co-Director
ycccl@rit.edu
347-546-3860
SMT-2410
*Confidential Resource
Rev. Brian C. Cool, Ed.D.
Catholic Newman Community at RIT Director
bcool@admin.rochester.edu
585-275-8523
SMT-2404
*Confidential Resource
Nichiren Buddhist Community Chaplain
clgfaa@rit.edu
716-535-7342
BOO-3446
*Confidential Resource
Rev. Robert Kennedy
Catholic Newman Community at RIT Minister
fr.robert.kennedy@dor.org
SMT-1412
*Confidential Resource
Rev. Sam Kinsman, MFA
RIT Progressive Chapel Community Chaplain
skinsman@ur.rochester.edu
714-299-8420
SMT-1408
*Confidential Resource
#Schedule a Time to Meet In Person or Virtually
Daron Ladson
Hands of Fire Team Member
djlsrl@rit.edu
SMT-1404
*Confidential Resource
^ASL Fluent
Sanjay Mathur
Hindu Student Life Chaplain
sjmccl@rit.edu
201-757-2278
SMT-2406
*Confidential Resource
#Schedule a Time to Meet In Person or Virtually
Rauncie Reynolds
Pagan Student Life Chaplain
lrrsrl@rit.edu
585-953-1957
SMT-1406
*Confidential Resource
Rev. Shūdō Brian Schroeder, Ph.D.
Idunno Zen Buddhist Community Chaplain
bxsgla@rit.edu
585-773-8606
LBR-3110
*Confidential Resource
Pastor Craig Swanson
The TABLE Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry Chaplain
cbscpm@rit.edu
614-477-7699
SMT-1408
*Confidential Resource
Michael Vernarelli, Ph.D.
Catholic Newman Community at RIT Campus Minister
mjvgss@rit.edu
585-750-4821
SMT-1412
*Confidential Resource
Program Staff
Program staff have experience working with young adults, particularly in relation to programming, mentoring, and leadership in spiritual and religious community. They support programs and student leaders within their own religious communities, but do not provide inter-religious spiritual counseling.
Jileen Carter
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Campus Minister
jlhccl@rit.edu
585-747-0699
SMT-2412
Leah Cohen
Chabad at RIT Co-Director
lcccl@rit.edu
862-222-4859
SMT-2410
Mercy Gbenjo
Cru Team Leader
mgbccl@rit.edu
775-762-7995
SMT-1404
Darlene Giardina
Catholic Newman Community at RIT Business Manager
dsgsrl@rit.edu
SMT-2404
Jewish Student Life Engagement Coordinator
mxgrla@rit.edu
585-475-6833
SMT-2408
#Schedule a Time to Meet In Person or Virtually
Karthik Krishnan
Hindu Student Life Team Member
kxksrl@rit.edu
SMT-2406
Catherine Mast
Cru Team Member
ctmccl@rit.edu
317-777-9076
SMT-1404
^ASL Fluent
Audrey McIntosh
Hands of Fire Team Member
agmsrl@rit.edu
SMT-1404
^ ASL Fluent
Allen Pinkins
Glory House International THE PLUG College Ministry Team Member
ampsrl@rit.edu
585-362-3499
SMT-2412
Sikha Rani
Hindu Student Life Team Member
sxrsrl@rit.edu
SMT-2406
Kristen Smith
Catholic Newman Community at RIT Campus Minister
krlccl@rit.edu
SMT-1412
Dakota Tiger
Hands of Fire Team Leader
dtsrl@rit.edu
217-721-6605
SMT-1404
^ASL Fluent
Heidi Tiger
Hands of Fire Team Member
hatsrl@rit.edu
SMT-1404
^ASL Fluent
Alix Zanibbi
The TABLE Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry Musician
afzsrl@rit.edu
SMT-1408
Support Us
Spirituality and Religious Life’s pastoral care, events, and offerings are critical for student success—academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
85% of our staff and programs are supported by donors, foundations, and religious organizations outside RIT. We rely heavily on the generosity of alumni, parents, the local community, and volunteers to provide over 1,000 events and activities for over 16,000 students in ~20 different religious communities on campus every year.
To make a gift to a specific faith community or organization, please use the search function under "Additional Designations."