Multifaith Opportunities
Villanova's Augustinian heritage embraces the search for meaning at the heart of the human journey. We seek to deepen the identities and practices of people of all faith backgrounds, as well as those who do not identify religiously, through open, honest dialogue and interaction.
Multifaith Engagement and Worship
The area surrounding Villanova is home to many wonderful communities offering prayer and worship. We offer students of different faith backgrounds many ways to pray, worship and interact with each other and with faculty, staff and community leaders. Multifaith events include:
- Dinners
- Retreats
- Our popular Human Library
For info about transportation and other opportunities, please contact the Rev. Julie Sheetz.
Interfaith Events
Villanova hosts many interfaith events throughout the year. At these events, individuals have the opportunity to learn about many diverse faiths, beliefs and practices while engaging with the Villanova community.
You’ve never read a book like this before! At the Human Library, check out a “human book”—faculty, staff and community leaders of diverse faith backgrounds (Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Sikh, Baha’i)—to learn about their beliefs and practices. Held every semester in Falvey Library.
The Fall Human Library will be held Monday, September 30, 4:30-6 p.m. in the Speakers' Corner of Falvey Library.
Human Library Sign-up
Interfaith Justice Cohort Fall 2024 – “Faith and Politics”
The Interfaith Justice Cohort (IJC) is a small group opportunity for interfaith dialogue through a social justice lens. This fall, cohort members will learn together about the different ways faith traditions or worldviews think about the intersection of faith and politics. Thursday evenings, 5:30-7 p.m. on the following dates: 9/26, 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, 11/21, 12/5
Information session Thursday, 9/12, St. 5:30-6:15 p.m. (with pizza) – St. Rita downstairs lounge
Monthly gatherings offer the opportunity to learn about and experience contemplative practices from diverse faith traditions.
Guided Compassion Practice in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
Monday, September 9
12:45 – 1:45 p.m. (Meditation Practice 1-1:30 p.m.)
St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room
Julie Regan, PhD, draws upon the academic study of Buddhism and decades of study and practice in Buddhist traditions to teach meditation practices that are open to all.
Activism as Spiritual Practice
Wednesday, October 9
5 p.m.
St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room
Eileen Flanagan, MA, Quaker author and leader of spiritually-grounded climate activism
Spiritual Experience of Sound
Wednesday, November 13
7 p.m.
Corr Chapel
Sean McElwee, MA, Associate Director for Liturgical Music and Director, Villanova Pastoral Musicians
Multifaith Celebration of Light
Thursday, December 12
5 p.m.
The Grove
Led by members of the Villanova community
Typically held in the spring semester, this retreat offers a unique chance to learn firsthand about the beliefs and practices of different religious traditions through site visits to area faith communities. Participants will also begin to develop skills in interfaith dialogue.
Students of all faith backgrounds, as well as those who do not identify as religious but are interested in learning, are welcome to attend.
Prayer, Spiritual Practices and Worship on Campus
Muslim Prayer
Jummah Prayer is held every Friday during the school year at 1:45 p.m. in the Multifaith Prayer Room on the 3rd floor of St. Rita Hall. For more info, contact Asheq Fazlullah, Muslim Student Adviser.
Mindfulness
Meditation
We invite you to join us for Mindfulness Mondays from 1-1:30 p.m. in the Devon Room, Connelly Center, or on Zoom. For more information, see the Spirituality web page. Each session is facilitated by a member of the Villanova community. Everyone is welcome. No registration is required.
Catholic Worship
All are welcome to join in Catholic Worship on Sundays or at daily Mass. Current schedules can be found on the Catholic Worship web page.
Off-Campus Prayer & Worship
| Name | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| African Methodist Episcopal | Bethel AME Church of Bryn Mawr | 50 South Merion Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
| Bethel AME Church of Ardmore | 163 Sheldon Lane Ardmore, PA 19003 |
|
| St John AME Church of Rosemont | 930 Conestoga Road Rosemont, PA 19010 | |
| American Baptist | Central Baptist Church | 106 West Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 19087 |
| Lower Merion Baptist Church | 911 New Gulph Road Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
|
| Anglo-Catholic (Traditional) | Church of the Good Shepherd | 1116 E Lancaster Ave Rosemont, PA 10910 |
| Buddhist | Soka Gakkai International - Philadelphia | 2000 Hamilton St. Suite 210 Philadelphia, PA 19130 |
| Won Buddhism of Philadelphia | 423 Abington Ave. Glenside, PA 19038 |
|
| Philadelphia Meditation Center | 8 East Eagle Road Havertown, PA 19083 | |
| Christian (Non-denominational) | Six:Eight Vineyard Church | 1116 Lancaster Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
| Resurrection Philadelphia | 123 S. 17th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
|
| Church of the Saviour | 651 N. Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 19087 |
|
| Hope Community Church | 150 East Beidler Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 |
|
| City Line Church | 404 Levering Mill Road Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 | |
| The Dwelling Place | 33 Lancaster Avenue, Paoli, PA 19301 | |
| Coptic Orthodox | St. George Coptic Orthodox Church | 411 Dekalb St. Norristown, PA 19401 |
| Episcopal | Christ Church Ithan | 536 Conestoga Rd Villanova, PA 19085 |
| Church of the Redeemer | 230 Pennswood Road Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
|
| St. David's Episcopal Church | 763 South Valley Forge Rd Wayne, PA 19087 |
|
| Saint Mary's Episcopal Church | 104 Louella Ave. Wayne, PA 19087 |
|
| Greek Orthodox | Saint George Antiochian | 8210 West Chester Pike Upper Darby, PA 19082 |
| St Demetrois | 229 Powell Ln Upper Darby, PA 19082 | |
| St. Luke | 35 N. Malin Rd Broomall, PA 19008 | |
| Hindu | Bharatiya Temple | 1612 County Line Road Chalfont, PA, 18914 |
| BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha | 1561 Woodbourne Road Levittown, PA |
|
| Jewish | Temple Beth Hillel Beth El (Conservative) | Lancaster Avenue & Remington Road Wynnewood, PA |
| Temple Brith Achim (Reform) | 481 South Gulph Road King of Prussia, PA 19087 |
|
| Main Line Reform Temple | 410 Montgomery Ave. Wynnewood, PA 19096 |
|
| Beth Am Israel | 1301 Hagys Ford Road Penn Valley, PA 19072 | |
| Beth David Reform Congregation | 1130 Vaughan Ln Gladwyne, PA 19035 | |
| Methodist-United Methodist | Wayne United Methodist Church | 210 S. Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 19087 |
| St. Luke United Methodist Church | 568 Montgomery Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
|
| Ardmore United Methodist Church | 200 Argyle Rd Ardmore, PA 19003 | |
| Muslim | Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge | 958 N Valley Forge Rd Devon, PA 19333 |
| The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship (Sufi) | 5820 Overbrook Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 |
|
| Masjid Al-Madinah | 201 S 69th Street Upper Darby, PA 19082 | |
| Masjid Omar | 51 South State Road Upper Darby, PA 19082 | |
| Masjid Mujahideen | 413 South 60th Street Philadelphia, PA 19143 | |
| Presbyterian-EPC | Grace Covenant Church | 275 S. Ithan Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
| Presbyterian-PCA |
|
4633 Cedar Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19143 |
| Presbyterian-PCUSA | Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church | 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 |
| Wayne Presbyterian Church | 125 E. Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 19087 |
|
| Ardmore Presbyterian Church | 5 W. Lancaster Ave. Ardmore, PA 19003 |
|
| Sikh | Philadelphia Sikh Society | 6706 Garden Court Rd. Milbourne, PA 19082 |
| Society of Friends (Quaker) | Haverford Friends Meeting | 855 Buck Lane Haverford, PA 19041 |
| Radnor Friends Meeting | 610 Conestoga Rd. Villanova, PA 19085 |
|
| Unitarian Universalist | Main Line Unitarian Church | 816 S Valley Forge Rd Devon, PA 19333-1825 |
| United Church of Christ | Gulph United Church of Christ | 100 Matson Ford Road Gulph Mills, PA 19428 |