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.
Fill out this quick Multifaith Survey to let us know how we can support you in your journey.
In addition to filling out the survey, please feel free to contact one of our advisers. We are happy to answer questions, address concerns or just chat about religious opportunities on and off campus.
The Rev. Julie Sheetz, PhD
Director of Multifaith Ministry
Matthew Zanowic
Graduate Resident Minister—Interfaith Outreach
Asheq Fazlullah
Muslim Student Adviser
Aviva Marchione
Hillel Adviser
Sean Culley
Philadelphia Hillel Springboard Fellow
The Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart
Ecumenical Adviser
Kerry SanChirico, PhD
Orthodox Student Adviser
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 and our popular Human Library.
The area surrounding Villanova is home to many wonderful communities offering prayer and worship. For info about transportation and other opportunities, please contact the Rev. Julie Sheetz.
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 Tuesday, October 24, 4:30-6:00 PM in the Speakers' Corner of Falvey Library
The Interfaith Justice Cohort (IJC) is a yearlong opportunity for interfaith dialogue through a social justice lens. Cohort members will learn together the different ways faith traditions or worldviews frame and foster the pursuit of economic justice. Use this link to apply for the 2023-24 IJC.
Monthly gatherings will offer the opportunity to learn about and experience contemplative practices from diverse faith traditions.
Mindfulness – September 12, 4:00 PM, Dougherty East Lounge
Poetry and Nasheed in the Islamic Tradition – October 18, 6:00 PM, St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room
Centering Prayer – November 15, 4:00 PM, St. Rita Multifaith Prayer Room
Multifaith Celebration of Light – December 11, The Grove
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.
Throughout the year, members of the Villanova community are invited to join in celebrating holidays of diverse faith traditions, including the Jewish High Holidays, Diwali (Hindu), Purim (Jewish), Holi (Hindu) and Ramadan (Muslim) Iftars.
Jummah Prayer is held every Friday during the school year at 1:45 PM. In Fall 2023, Jummah will be held in the Prayer Room on the 2nd floor of John Barry Hall until fall break. After fall break, we will gather in the St. Rita Hall Multifaith Prayer Room. For more info, contact Asheq Fazlullah, the Muslim Student Adviser.
We invite you to join us for Mindfulness Mondays. For details, including the time and Zoom link, see the Spirituality web page. Each session is facilitated by a member of the Villanova community. Everyone is welcome. No registration is required.
See the Sunday and daily Mass schedule and other opportunities on the Catholic Worship web page.
Bethel AME Church of Bryn Mawr
50 South Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
[610] 527–6674
Sunday 11:00 AM
Bethel AME Church of Ardmore
163 Sheldon Lane
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-642-8966
Central Baptist Church
106 West Lancaster Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
610-688–0664
Sunday 10:45 AM
Lower Merion Baptist Church
911 New Gulph Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-525-1855
Sunday 10:30 AM
Church of the Good Shepherd
1116 E Lancaster Ave
Rosemont, PA 10910
610-525–7070
Sunday 8:00 AM Low Mass, 10:00 AM Solemn High Mass
Soka Gakkai International - Philadelphia
2000 Hamilton St.
Suite 210
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215-569- 2144
Won Buddhism of Philadelphia
423 Abington Ave.
Glenside, PA 19038
215-866-8443
Six:Eight Vineyard Church
1116 Lancaster Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-733-8856
Resurrection Philadelphia
123 S. 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Sunday 9:30 AM
Church of the Saviour
651 N. Wayne Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
[610] 688–6338
Sunday 8:05 AM & 9:30 AM (Classic)
Sunday 11:00 AM (Contemporary)
Sunday 6:00 PM (Postmodern)
Hope Community Church
150 East Beidler Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
[610] 265–4981
Barry.Selinksy@villanova.edu
Sunday 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM
St. George Coptic Orthodox Church
411 Dekalb St.
Norristown, PA 19401
[610] 272–7615
stgeorgephilly@gmail.com
Sunday 9:00 AM
For more information, please contact Dr. Kerry SanChirico, Orthodox Student Fellowship Adviser (kerry.sanchirico@villanova.edu) or Father Joseph Loya, OSA of the Theology & Religious Studies Department at ext. 9-7243.
Christ Church Ithan
536 Conestoga Rd
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 688-1110
Sunday 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM
Church of the Redeemer
230 Pennswood Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
[610] 525–2486
Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
St. David's Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Rd
Wayne, PA 19087
610-688-7947
Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM
Saint Mary's Episcopal Church
104 Louella Ave.
Wayne, PA 19087
[610] 688–1313
Sunday 7:45 AM & 10:30 AM
Saint George Antiochian
8210 West Chester Pike
Upper Darby, PA 19082
[610] 853–1171
Saturday 5:30 PM—Orthodox Vespers
Sunday 9:30 AM—Matins
Sunday 10:30 AM—Divine Liturgy
For more information, please contact Dr. Kerry SanChirico, Orthodox Student Fellowship Advisor (kerry.sanchirico@villanova.edu) or Father Joseph Loya, OSA of the Theology & Religious Studies Department at ext. 9-7243.
Bharatiya Temple
1612 County Line Road
Chalfont, PA, 18914
215-997-1181
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
1561 Woodbourne Road
Levittown, PA
610-525-7070
Please contact Villanova’s Hindu Interfaith Advisor, Shivam Gosai, for more information: shivamgosai@gmail.com
Temple Beth Hillel Beth El (Conservative)
Lancaster Avenue & Remington Road
Wynnewood, PA
610-649-5300
Friday 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:30 AM
Temple Brith Achim (Reform)
481 South Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19087
610-337-2222
Main Line Reform Temple
410 Montgomery Ave.
Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-649-7800
Please visit the official website of Villanova Hillel for more information.
Wayne United Methodist Church
210 S. Wayne Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
[610] 688–5650
Sunday 10:30 AM
Radnor United Methodist Church
930 Conestoga Road
Rosemont, PA 19010
610-525–6962
Sunday 11:00 AM
St. Luke United Methodist Church
568 Montgomery Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
610-525-2396
Islamic Society of Greater Valley Forge
958 N Valley Forge Rd
Devon, PA 19333
610-688-2209
The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship (Sufi)
5820 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-879-6307
Please contact Villanova’s Muslim Advisor, Asheq Fazlullah, for more information: afazlu01@villanova.edu
Grace Covenant Church
275 S. Ithan Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Alejhandra.taraquino@villanova.edu
Sunday 9:45AM (Pickup at Bartley Hall at 9:30 AM)
Renewal Presbyterian Church
4633 Cedar Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19143
[215] 727–7200
Sunday 9:30 AM & 11:30 AM
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
625 Montgomery Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
[610] 525–2821
Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
Wayne Presbyterian Church
125 E. Lancaster Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
[610] 688–8700
Sunday 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, & 11:00 AM
Ardmore Presbyterian Church
5 W. Lancaster Ave.
Ardmore, PA 19003
610-642-6650
Sunday 10:30 AM
Radnor Friends Meeting
610 Conestoga Rd.
Villanova, PA 19085
[610] 293–1153
Sunday 10:00 AM
Main Line Unitarian Church
816 S Valley Forge Rd
Devon, PA 19333-1825
610-688-8332
Sunday 10:00 AM
Gulph United Church of Christ
100 Matson Ford Road
Gulph Mills, PA 19428
[610] 525–6593
Sunday 10:30 AM - Services
Friday 11:00 AM - Prayer Service
We support and oversee all faith-related student groups, as well as Campus Ministry student service groups.
All of these organizations also are registered with Student Involvement.
We are a student organization associated with Antioch Church of Philadelphia. Our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds. Whether you are a spiritual seeker who's just beginning to ask questions about God or a committed Christian who wants to deepen your faith, Antioch is a welcoming community where you can find spiritual help, hope and encouragement. We invite you to discover God's wonderful love and plan for life through our church! For more info, contact Chris Lee
Fiat is Villanova's Catholic women's community. We seek to live the joy of the Gospel through conversation, friendship and a ton of fun along the way. Fiat is a space for prayer, virtuous friendship, Catholic formation and joy. We explore our identity in Christ, support each other on the journey of faith and strive for sainthood. We meet twice weekly to deepen our faith and our friendships with one another! For more info, contact Emily Lindoerfer
We are the Villanova Fellowship Group for a local Philadelphia church, Grace Covenant Church. GCC is a nondenominational Christian church that seeks to raise kingdom workers. Our GCC fellowship group on campus meets every week for Bible study. We have various fun events during the year that allow us to have fellowship in Jesus! For more info, contact Jonathan VerSchneider
The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal Catholic organization dedicated to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, upholding them through our programs, meetings and events centered around growing as men in the Catholic faith. Our goal is to give men the opportunity to build up and strengthen the Church. We welcome all Catholic men who want to start living out their faith in a more concrete way. No matter where you are in your faith and relationship with Christ, the Knights are here to build you up into the man you are meant to be. For more info, contact Adam Vanino.
The Muslim Students Association seeks to serve the best interest of Muslim students, while educating and interacting with other faiths to promote religious diversity at Villanova. The MSA offers Jummah (congregational) Prayer on Fridays, community Iftar meals during Ramadan, and numerous events for community building and learning throughout the year. For more info, contact Khadija Malik
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) guides students along the path to Jesus Christ through His Church, cultivating a campus community of worship, witness, service, fellowship and education. The Vision of OCF is to
be the loving presence of Christ and the Orthodox Church on Villanova’s campus
be an integral part of students’ spiritual formation by challenging them to explore the faith
inspire students to commit to living an Orthodox Christian way of life daily
OCF gathers regularly for fellowship events, discussions with our spiritual advisor, and to attend church services at local Orthodox parishes. Additionally, OCF participates in campus ministry events, representing the Orthodox student voice at Villanova. For more info, contact Jenna Magas.
The mission of Villanova Hillel is to enhance the religious and cultural lives of Jewish students attending Villanova. We also hope to make non-Jewish students feel welcome in the club. We strive to uphold our mission by celebrating Jewish holidays, hosting Chinese food dinners, and facilitating dialogue between Jewish and non-Jewish students on campus. It is our goal to make Jewish students feel comfortable on campus and to address as many of their needs as possible. For more info, contact Micki Loud and Lauren Arnold.
The purpose of Villanova Intervarsity is to start and grow a witnessing community of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture, and God's purposes in the world. For more info, contact Jeremy Mathew
Young Life College is an ecumenical Christian fellowship group seeking to foster and develop relationships with each other and with God. We offer weekly large groups and small groups where we look at the Bible, talk about faith, and learn more about who Jesus is and how he influences our lives. Wherever you are in your faith journey, you're welcome here! Join us as we have fun and explore our faith through community, adventure and significance. For more info, contact Ellen Pataky.
Villanova's Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter seeks to engage students through service opportunities within the local community and unite all Villanovans around the cause of affordable housing. Through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties as well as on-campus fundraising initiatives, the chapter furthers Habitat for Humanity's vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. For more information, contact CJ Sferlazza
Food Recovery Network (FRN) at Villanova aims to provide for the community by recovering food from the dining halls weekly and distributing it to locations such as homeless shelters, and food pantries in the Ardmore area. Our FRN chapter here at Villanova recovered around 1700 pounds of food in the 2022-2023 school year. All food was donated to AIDS Care Group located in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. Currently, we are recovering food 4 nights a week in Dougherty hall, (“Pit”) and Donahue Hall ("Spit"), and we are looking for dedicated volunteers to help us package recovered food. Be part of the movement to reduce food waste and build a more sustainable planet while ensuring all people have access to food. For more information, contact Kaitlin Zheng
Villanova Refugee Empowerment is a social justice service organization focused on guiding refugees as they adjust to life in the United States while recovering from the trauma they may have experienced from being forced to flee their homeland. For more information, contact Gina Ngo
The IAC envisions a Villanova community that is a welcoming home for people of all faith traditions, as well as for those who identify as non-religious. It draws on partners from across campus to guide university policies and practices around four focal areas:
Julia Sheetz, Director of Multifaith Ministry (Campus Ministry), Convenor
Sheryl Bowen, Director, Center for Dialogue
Dana Jacob, Director of Lifelong Learning and Alumni Programs, University Advancement
Brian McCabe, Director of Spirituality and Outreach (Campus Ministry)
Terry Nance, Vice-President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Rena Potok, Faculty, Augustine and Culture Seminar Program
Kerry San Chirico, Associate Professor, Theology and Religious Studies
Cathy Toner, Assistant Dean and member of Interfaith Committee, VSB
Asheq Fazlullah, Muslim Student Advisor
Aviva Marchione, Jewish Student Advisor
The council was established in 2018 as an outgrowth of University initiatives to promote interfaith engagement, including
Creation of position of Campus Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Outreach
Creation of faculty line for interreligious studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
Selection of five Villanovans to participate in first Institute for Interfaith Excellence, sponsored by the Interfaith Youth Core and the American Association of Colleges and Universities
Integration of interfaith engagement into student experience through leader trainings
Regular component of the RISE training for student organization leaders
Regular component of School of Business student leader training
Interfaith sessions with RAs, Blue Key, Peer Ministers, ACT facilitators and IGR students
Initiatives with Student Government
Advocacy and support for diversifying of Theology and Religious Studies offerings and faculty
Retooling of TRS program structure led to the creation of 3 tracks for THL 1000:
Catholic Studies
Faith and Reason
Global Religious Experience
Faculty lines increasing religious diversity:
Dr. Ethan Schwartz, Hebrew Bible, Jewish Studies
Dr. Stephanie Wong, Comparative and Systematic Theology, Chinese Religions
Dr. Jaisy Joseph, Systematic and Practical Theology
Kerry San Chirico and Julie Sheetz co-authored chapter on “Interreligious Studies and Interfaith Engagement at the Catholic University" for the Georgetown Handbook of Interreligious Studies
Support for diverse religious practice
Weekly Jummah (Muslim congregational prayer) on campus
Establishment of advisers for Muslim Students Association and Hillel
Research and development of multifaith prayer space (to be included in St. Rita Hall renovation)
Academic and dietary accommodations (e.g., Ramadan and Eid during final exams)
Transportation to religious services and other support
Addressing religious bias, discrimination and violence
Vigils in wake of Tree of Life synagogue and New Zealand mosque attacks
Public response to antisemitism
Continuing work with ODEI on campus climate
Multifaith experiential learning
Interfaith Human Library held every semester
Interfaith retreats
Religious site visits
On-campus events (prayer practices, interfaith dinners, Ramadan iftars, Holi celebration, Passover seders)
If you missed the Inaugural Faith in Dialogue Symposium on January 31, you can view it by clicking the button above.
Join us for the Human Library on Tuesday, October 24, 4:30 - 6:00 PM in the Falvey Speakers' Corner
