Practicing Your Faith
Practicing Your Faith or Spirituality
Baha’i
Buddhist
Christian Orthodox/Eastern Rite
Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogue
Friends
Hindu
Jain
Jewish
Muslim
Other Faiths and Spiritual Practices
Protestant Christian
Roman Catholic
Sikh
Children and Adult Religious Schools
We realize that many of you who have chosen to study at the University of Notre Dame do not practice Roman Catholicism.
It is important to know, however, that the very mission of the University is to pursue and share “truth for its own sake” and to that end, the University while striving to retain its essential Catholic nature seeks a dialogue with those of all faiths.
“What the University asks of all its scholars and students…is not a particular creedal affiliation, but a respect for the objectives of Notre Dame and a willingness to enter into the conversation that gives life and character.”
You are encouraged to seek support for your particular religious creed and faith both through Campus Ministry and other area congregations and agencies. Further, you are invited to share those insights and perspectives which lead to greater intercultural and interfaith understanding and which enhance and strengthen family and community bonds.
Places for meetings/worship services and other resources for:
Baha’i
Baha’i Temple
1608 Mishawaka Ave
South Bend, IN
234-4940
Baha’i Faith Index
Buddhist
There is also an online information and education resource for you at Buddha.net .
The University’s Theology Department offers each semester courses exploring Buddhist theology and scriptural writings:
Contact one of the international student clubs (Chinese Friendship Society, Japan Club, etc) about how you can help plan and participate in various festivals and observances of Buddhist holy days.
Catholic – (See Roman Catholic below)
Christian Orthodox/Eastern Rite
There are a number of area churches that offer the Orthodox or Eastern Rite, including:
- St. John of Damascus (Melkite)
- St. Michael (Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic)
- St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox
- St. Peter & Paul Serbian
- St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox, Goshen, IN
University of Notre Dame’s Orthodox Christian Fellowship
See this site for addresses and phones, or consult the yellow pages of the telephone book.
Ecumenical/Interfaith Dialogue
ISSA, together with the GSU, Graduate Residence Halls, and Campus Ministry, sponsors a series of evenings that feature prayer and ritual from the world’s religious traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. These evenings are announced through the ISSA Web site and listserv. To learn more about this series, see: Evenings of Prayer from Around the World .
You will find opportunities through Campus Ministry to meet for interfaith prayer and discussion, as well as courses offered through the Theology Department ] that explore interfaith dialogue. The Coleman-Morse Center also offers some support for those groups who would like to arrange for a religious service or celebration on campus in the traditions of their non-Catholic faith.
In the South Bend area there are also congregations that consider themselves ecumenical or inclusive beyond strict denominational parameters. See listings for these churches in the yellow pages under “Churches-Interdenominational.”
On the last Friday of every month, 8pm, Zion United Church of Christ offers an ecumenical service in the Taize tradition. Located near Howard Park at 715 E. Wayne St. in South Bend, you may call 574-233-5446 or write, zionsb@michiana.org for more information.
Friends (Quakers)
South Bend Friend’s Meeting (Quakers) meets for unprogrammed (silent) worship from 10:30am to 11:30am at the Charles Martin Youth Center, 802 Lincoln Way West in South Bend. Childcare/Children’s Religious Education is provided during worship service time. Coffee and Fellowship follow afterward. For rides from St. Mary’s or Notre Dame, please call 574-232-8258 . All Newcomers Welcome!
http://southbend.quaker.org
Hindu
The closest temple you will find to South Bend is the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, the Rama Temple] .
The Sathya Sai Baba Center of South Bend meets every Thursday, 6:30pm-8pm with bhajans and a study circle at the house of Aruna and Sadu Thinakal, 15795 Lake Forest, Granger, IN, 273-9458. On campus, contact Professor Christian Moevs, 631-6781, for more information and transportation from campus.
Online you can find any number of educational and information sites, including: www.pluralism.org
Look for course offerings related to Hinduism through the University’s Theology Department as well: http://theology.nd.edu/courses/index.html
Contact the Indian Student Association of Notre Dame (IAND) about how you can help plan and participate in various festivals and observances of Hindu holy days.
Jain
See the Web site for the Young Jains of America, Midwest Region, for more information about any local contacts: www.yja.org
Jewish
There are three synagogues in the area for Orthodox and Reformed congregations. See “this website”: or the phone book
The University of Notre dame’s Theology Department offers a number of courses in Biblical Hebrew, Jewish Spirituality and other related topics.
Online gateway to Jewish/Judaism resources and information:
http://shamash.org/trb/judaism.html
South Bend also has a Hebrew Day School for pre-school through eighth grade. Phone: 574-255-3351.
Muslim
There are three Muslim mosques not far from campus.
Great News Islamic Center, 43 S. Dundee
Islamic Dawah Center, 1215 Lincoln Way W.
Islamic Society of Michiana, 3310 Hepler St.
There is also a student organization on campus that can offer you support and guidance, the Muslim Student Association. [No url found]
The University of Notre Dame’s Theology Department offers a number of courses exploring topics in Islamic religion and culture.
Other Faiths and Spiritual Practices
Campus Ministry may be able to help you make contact with congregations and groups not listed above or discover other ways to practice your particular spirituality. The Coleman-Morse center, for example, includes a “non-denominational” meditation room.
Other churches/organizations that might serve as a resource:
Theology Department of Notre Dame
Campus Ministry
First Unitarian Church
Protestant and Other Christian Congregations
There are a number of congregations representing most Christian denominations throughout the area, such as Mennonite, Quaker, Brethren, Anglican, Evangelical and Reformed churches. Some churches offer worship services in languages such as Chinese, Korean, etc. There are also Bible studies and ministry outreach here on campus for those who practice a Christian faith other than Catholicism.
At the Coleman-Morse Center you will find a list of area churches and contacts, or consult the phonebook under the heading Churches. For on-line lists of some of these area churches, see:
http://www.nd.edu/msps/
http://www.usachurch.com/indiana/south_bend/churches.htm
A Chinese Bible study meets weekly in the University Village Community Center. Contact Jenny Hullinger for more information: jhulling@yahoo.com
If transportation to and from church is a concern, you should bring this to the attention of the church’s pastor or administrative assistant.
Roman Catholic
If you are a practicing Catholic or interested in learning more about the Catholic Church, you couldn’t choose a better place than the University of Notre Dame.
http://www.nd.edu/religion/index.shtml
In addition to daily masses both in residence halls and in the Basilica, upstairs and down, there are opportunities to participate in catechetical and Bible study classes, spirituality workshops, sacramental preparation, retreats, ministry, service projects, etc. Please see the Campus Ministry Web site for more information. http://www.nd.edu/ministry/
Note that there are also special masses for those whose native language is Spanish and for those who would like to explore and participate in ministries within the context of a particular culture or that meet particular spiritual needs:
Under Campus Ministry, see the section on Cross-cultural Ministry and Special Activities.
You may also choose to participate in the worship services, ministries and activities of the family parish on campus, Sacred Heart Parish .
Sikh
For information about the closest area Sikh community see: www.indianainfo.org
Children and Adult School/Classes with Religious Affiliations:
In the South Bend area you will find schools that offer scriptural language classes as well as day schools where a child may attend in fulfillment of both religious and state requirements for education.
In addition to language courses offered on campus for students (spouses of post-doctoral students and of visiting scholars may attend university classes as well), there are classes offered through mosques and synagogues.
Children may attend schools sponsored by various religious congregations, but in the state of Indiana these schools receive little public support thus families are usually required to pay a tuition and all school-related expenses. In some schools, children are also expected to wear a uniform and assume the cost of purchasing and maintaining this clothing.
For a list of parochial schools in the area, click on this link