HOW DOES VILLANOVA WELCOME ALL FAITH TRADITIONS?

Our Catholic faith is the strong foundation upon which Villanova is built. Liturgical traditions and other aspects of Catholic life and teachings are vibrant within our community. As the University has grown and evolved throughout its history, we have made it a priority to foster a welcoming environment for not only Catholics, but also individuals of all faith traditions, as well as those who do not identify religiously. It is actually our Augustinian Catholic identity that challenges us to engage, to encounter and to welcome. As Pope Francis has said, we are to “widen the space of our tent.” Open, honest dialogue and conversation are key to ensuring that all feel supported and understood in our collective search for meaning. It is by listening and being open to learn that we can bridge lines of difference and celebrate the values we all share.

Our academic programs provide unique opportunities for students to explore the role of their own faith and religious traditions in their lives. All undergraduate students take the two-semester Augustine and Culture Seminar as well as a Theology course, core curricular elements that expose them to the Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition and promote exploration of one’s own faith and spirituality. Also, the Ph.D. in Theology program, founded in 2016, is an interdisciplinary and integrative program that probes the intersection of theology and culture within an Augustinian context. The program had its first three graduates in 2023, representing different Christian faith traditions and roles in ministry and formation. 

The Center for Faith and Learning Scholars Program is a wonderful example of this approach. Through the program, student scholars and faculty mentors of all faith traditions and spiritual backgrounds connect multiple times over the course of three years to explore matters of faith with open dialogue in a supportive environment. Together at Dinner-Dialogue events held four times a year, participants discuss texts that offer pathways to reflection on how faith and learning are integrated along one’s life journey.

On our campus, a knowledgeable team of multifaith advisers, who represent a wide variety of faith traditions, counsel and guide students as they confront questions or challenges related to their faith and spirituality, and connect them with opportunities to deepen their faith through academic programs, community engagement and service experiences. Students of all faith backgrounds find many ways to pray, worship and interact with each other and with faculty, staff and community leaders on campus through multifaith events, including dinners, retreats and our popular Human Library — where small groups of students can meet with different speakers from various faiths to learn more about how they experience the world.