Spiritual Life

The University's commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus extends to all religious faiths with spiritual life viewed as an integral part of a student's holistic development. For those from a specific faith tradition or for those in spiritual, ethical, and philosophical exploration, growth can occur both as an individual and within community. RWU encourages multi-faith learning and dialogues, service experiences, community building, and justice seeking within campus life and beyond.

Student Faith Groups and opportunities for campus worship

Faculty and staff advisors work with student groups to support community, student faith, and religious, spiritual, and moral/ethical explorations. For more information on any of these student groups contact the Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation office at 401-254-3088.Spiritual Life Students

  • HILLEL (JEWISH COMMUNITY): Our Hillel student club celebrates the richness of Judaism as both a religion and a culture here on campus.  This includes  gatherings for Shabbat, celebrating the High Holidays, and hosting socials.  Information on Hillel can be found by connecting with them via email hillel@g.rwu.edu.

  • CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY: Gathers for Mass on Sundays at 6:00 p.m., Mary Teft White Center, University Library.  Information on Catholic Campus Ministry, please contact Dr. Sean Varano at svarano@rwu.edu

  • CHRISTIAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP (CSF): Our CSF student club is  a nondenominational Christian group focused on Christian formation, prayer, and Bible study. CSF has traveled to sites in the US and Caribbean that needed help rebuilding after catastrophic hurricanes during the Spring Break period. Information on CSF can be found by connecting with them via email at csf@g.rwu.edu

  • Spiritual Life StudentsPrayer and Meditation Room in the Intercultural Center, which is available to all students. Religious and prayer services convene in locales across the campus.

  • Sunday Catholic Mass at 6:00 p.m. in the University Library's Mary Teft White Center (first floor).

2023-2024 Religious Days of Observance Calendar

View a list of holy days observed by many students, faculty, and staff members in our community. The list, while exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Please direct suggestions for additions to the list of religious days of observance to the Office of Student Life, rwustudentlife@rwu.edu.

We would like for students, faculty, and staff to be aware of a broad range of religious observances. Students who are interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or other commitments, should contact their faculty or supervisors well in advance with such requests. Faculty should consider the impact of holy days on class attendance and assignments. Student Organizations, Administrative, and Academic Units should consider holy days when scheduling events and programming.

Places of Worship

(This is not a comprehensive list but a guide to some of the closest locations).

Transportation: Churches in Bristol, Middletown, or Newport can be reached via RWU Shuttles or RIPTA 60 Bus

Baptist

First Baptist Church of Bristol
250 High St., Bristol, RI

Community Baptist Church
50 Dr. Marcus F Wheatland Blvd., Newport, RI

United Baptist Church
30 Springs St., Newport, RI

Barrington Baptist Church
25 Old Country Rd., Barrington, RI

Buddhist

Watt Th. Karam Cambodian Khmer Temple
178 Hanover St., Providence RI

The Buddhist Center of New England, Inc. 
252 Public St., Providence RI

Wat Lao Buddhovath of Rhode Island Inc. 
88 Limerock Rd., Smithfield, RI

Dhamagosnaram Buddhist Temple
2870 Plainfield Pike, Cranston, RI

Benevolent Street Zen Sangha (Soto)
1 Benevolent St., Providence, RI

Providence Zen Center (Seon)
99 Pound Rd., Cumberland, RI 

Wat Lao Buddhist Temple
485 River St., Woonsocket RI

Rhode Island Zen Dojo (Rinzai)
201 Waterman Ave., East Providence RI

Catholic

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish
141 State St., Bristol, RI

St. Elizabeth's Church
577 Wood St., Bristol, RI

St. Mary's Church of Bristol
330 Wood St., Bristol, RI

St. Mary of the Bay
645 Main St., Warren, RI

Holy Angels Church
941 Maple Ave., Barrington, RI

Christian

Mt. Hope Christian Fellowship
Colt School Auditorium, 574 Hope St., Bristol, RI

Cross Point Church
7 Central St., Newport, RI

Congregational

First Congregational Church
281 High St., Bristol, RI

Episcopal

St. Michael's Episcopal Church
399 Hope St., Bristol, RI

St. John's Episcopal Church
191 County Rd., Barrington, RI

Jewish

United Brothers Synagogue (Conservative)
Cantor Dr. Joel Gluck
205 High St., Bristol, RI

Temple Shalom (Conservative)
Rabbi Daniel Kripper
223 Valley Rd., Middletown, RI

Touro Synagogue (Orthodox)
Rabbi Stephen Belsky
85 Tour St., Newport, RI

Temple Habonim (Reform)
Rabbi Howard Voss-Atman
165 New Meadow Rd., Barrington, RI

Methodist

Portsmouth United Methodist Church
2732 East Main Rd., Portsmouth, RI

Barrington United Methodist Church
230 Washington Rd., Barrington, RI

Muslim

Masjid Al-Kareem (Islamic Center of RI)
39 Haskins St., Providence, RI

Masjid Zumaratul Jannat
801 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI

Brown-RISD Muslim Community
Brown Muslims Students' Center
018 Champlin Hall, Brown University, Providence, RI

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church of Newport
4 Everett St., Newport, RI

Unitarian

Channing Memorial Church
135 Pelman St., Newport, RI