The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) supports students, faculty and staff as we connect to something greater than ourselves and live out our values.
Here you will explore the complexities of the human experience, find compassionate support, and experience the diversity of religious and spiritual expression in our community.
10:00 am
Transportation to Catholic Mass
Corpus Christi Parish
4:00pm
Meditation Practice
Rose Chapel
5:30pm
Monday Night Friends Community Dinners
4:00pm
Meditation Practice
Rose Chapel
5:00pm
HealthRhythms Group Drumming
Rose Chapel
5:30pm
Multifaith Dinners
Lorimer Lounge
7:30pm
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Worship
Rose Chapel
7:30pm
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Community Night
Mary Low Coffee House
This year 10 student leaders join the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life as fellows. Each Fellow will work to support the office and expand programming to support spiritual wellness across campus. These students represent a range of religious and spiritual identities and communities. Each one will take on a different project, from creating programming to unite the arts and spirituality to leading religious services.
Spiritual wellness has two components, a connection to something that is greater than yourself, and the opportunity to live out your values. We support spiritual wellness in many ways, from exam period care packages to retreats and programs that explore what it means to live a purposeful life. Multi-generational community is important to student development so you will often find Colby employees, community members and their families participating in Spiritual Life programs and events.
Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life Kate Smanik offers pastoral care for all members of the Colby community. Pastoral care is a source of social, emotional, and spiritual support in which the care provider accompanies the seeker as they work towards wholeness. This care is private and confidential, based on the spiritual beliefs of the individual seeking support.
Support Groups offer social, emotional and spiritual support to a group of individuals around a shared struggle. Grief Support groups form every semester and are open to all members of the Colby community. Other support groups form as necessary – email Kate if you’d like to form a group around a topic that is important to you.
Kate Smanik
Dean of Religious and Spiritual life