Religious and Spiritual Life

The Chaplains serve as confidential spiritual counselors and provide ethical leadership to the seven schools of The Claremont Colleges. Located in the McAlister Center, our Chaplains include a Pastor, a Priest, a Rabbi, and an Imam. Each of the Chaplains encourages and supports all religious and spiritual student groups and communities on campus. The Chaplains are here to strengthen individual faith and promote interfaith relations by offering religious support and engagement opportunities and to foster a faith community for students as they pursue their education.

Contact

Phone | (909) 621-8685
Email | chaplains@claremont.edu
Hours | Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Winter Break Closure: December 20 – January 4

Religious and Spiritual Life
McAlister Center for Religious Activities
919 North Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711

Religious and Spiritual Life Office Factsheet
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Who We Are

The Claremont Colleges’ chaplains are spiritual care providers representing a diverse range of faith traditions and cultural backgrounds. We serve all students, whether religious, spiritual, secular, questioning, or curious. Each of the four Chaplains is here to walk with you through your journey, whether you’re rooted in a particular spiritual or religious tradition or exploring your path.

We support students and groups of all identities and beliefs.
We provide confidential listening and guidance.
We offer spiritual care, community, and connection.

What We Offer

Spiritual Support & Counseling

Confidential, nonjudgmental conversations — about life, purpose, grief, doubt, joy, or anything else on your heart.

Weekly Gatherings & Prayer Services

Regular programs for reflection, meditation, prayer, study, and community. Open to all (and usually with food!).

Holiday & Holy Day Observances

We support religious accommodation and host interfaith and faith-specific events for major holidays and seasons.

Interfaith Dialogue & Community Building

Events, outings, and conversations to build understanding across differences and deepen community.

Start Here

Indicate which religious tradition(s) you identify with – and/or which you would like to explore or learn more about. You can expect to here back from recognized student religious, spiritual, and philosophical organizations.

Take Our Religious Preference Form Here

Programs & Resources

FAQ's

Are there religious services I can join?
Yes! The Chaplains host weekly Shabbat Service, Jummah Prayer, and Catholic Mass. If these services do not align with your faith, we can connect you to student organizations (Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, LDS, etc.) that host services and worship as well.

Do I have to be religious to join events or services?
No. The Chaplains support all students regardless of faith or being nonreligious. Fill free to join any service, event, or meal. At these events, there is no pressuring or recruiting. The Chaplains want you to make friends, join fun events, and grow as an individual whether that is through faith or community.

How do I meet with a Chaplain one on one?
Contact our office via email, phone, or in person and we will schedule a pastoral counseling appointment for you. Remember that these meetings will remain confidential. The Chaplains are not mandated reporters, thus anything you share will be confidential and respected.

Can I pray privately on campus?
Yes, the McAlister Center for Religious Activities has a private prayer room. You can access the prayer room anytime, no sign-in is required. In the prayer room, we have prayer rugs, worship clothing (hats, shawls, kippot), and religious texts available if needed.

Major Religious Holy Days 2025 - 2026

This calendar is not an exhaustive list either of religious traditions or of the holidays observed in those traditions. If we have not included a religious tradition or major religious holiday of significance to you, please email chaplains@claremont.edu so that it might be included in future editions of this calendar. While we have made extensive efforts to verify the accuracy of the information included here, some inaccuracies may remain. Please contact us at chaplains@claremont.edu with any feedback.

FALL 2025

August
Aug 1 – Lughnasadh / Lammas (Pagan)
Aug 2-3 – Tisha B’Av (Jewish)
Aug 9 – Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
Aug 15 – Assumption of Mary (Christian)
Aug 16 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
Aug 26-27 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)

September
Sept 8 – Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Christian – Orthodox)
Sept 22 – Oct 2 – Sharada Navaratri (Hindu)
Sept 22 – Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Alban Elfed (Pagan)
Sept 22-24 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
Sept 30 – Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony (Indigenous American)
Sept 30 – Jicarilla Apache Ghost Dance (Indigenous American)

October
Oct 1-30 – Cherokee Great New Moon Festival (Indigenous American)
Oct 1-2 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
Oct 2 – End of Sharada Navaratri (Hindu)
Oct 4 – Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Christian – Catholic)
Oct 2 – Dussehra / Vijaya Dashami (Hindu)
Oct 12-16 – Ghambar Ayathrem (Zoroastrian)
Oct 6-13 – Sukkot (Jewish)
Oct 13 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Public)
Oct 13-14 – Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
Oct 13-15 – Simchat Torah (Jewish)
Oct 20 – Installation of Granth Sahib Ji as Guru (Sikh)
Oct 20 – Diwali (Hindu, Jain, Sikh)
Oct 22 – Jain New Year (Jain)
Oct 22 – Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í)
Oct 23 – Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í)
Oct 31 – Reformation Day (Christian – Protestant)
Oct 31 – Nov 1 – Samhain / Samhuinn (Wicca / Pagan)

November
Nov 1 – All Saints Day (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)
Nov 2 – All Souls’ Day (Christian – Catholic)
Nov 5 – Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Sikh)
Nov 24 – Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í)
Nov 24 – Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh)
Nov 27 – Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Bahá’í)
Nov 30 – First Sunday of Advent (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)

December
Dec 1-30 – Shalako Kachina Ceremony (Indigenous American)
Dec 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
Dec 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Christian – Catholic)
Dec 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Christian – Catholic)
Dec 14-22 – Hanukkah (Jewish)
Dec 21 – Winter Solstice / Yule / Alban Arthan (Pagan)
Dec 25 – Christmas (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)
Dec 25 – Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ (Christian – Orthodox)
Dec 26 – Jan 1 – Kwanzaa (Pan-African)
Dec 26 – Death of the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian)
Dec 31 – Jan 4 – Ghambar Maidyarem (Zoroastrian)

SPRING & SUMMER 2026

January
Jan 1-31 – Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony (Indigenous American)
Jan 6 – Epiphany (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)
Jan 6 – Theophany (Christian – Orthodox)
Jan 7 – Christmas (Christian – Orthodox)
Jan 16 – Laylat al-Isra’wa al-Mi’raj (Islam)
Jan 20 – Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Sikh)
Jan 23 – Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Jan 29 – Sadeh (Zoroastrian)

February
Feb 1-28 – Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony (Indigenous American)
Feb 1-2 – Imbolc (Wicca / Pagan)
Feb 1-2 – Tu BiShvat (Jewish)
Feb 3 – Laylat al-Bara’a (Islam)
Feb 15 – Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
Feb 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
Feb 17 – Lunar New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist)
Feb 18 – Ash Wednesday (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)
Feb 18 – Ramadan begins (Islam)
Feb 18 – Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti (Hindu)
Feb 23 – Clean Monday (Christian – Catholic & Orthodox)
Feb 23 – Start of Great Lent (Christian – Orthodox))

March
March 1-31 – Eagle Dances (Indigenous American)
March 2-20 – 19 Day Fast (Bahá’í)
Mar 2-3 – Purim (Jewish)
Mar 3 – Magha Puja (Buddhist)
Mar 4 – Holi (Hindu)
Mar 16 – Laylat al-Qadr (Islam)
March 16-20 – Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem (Zoroastrian)
Mar 19 – Ramadan ends (Islam)
March 19-20 – Eid al-Fitr (Islam)
Mar 20 – Spring Equinox / Ostara / Alban Eilir (Pagan)
Mar 21 – Naw-Rúz (New Year) (Bahá’í / Zoroastrian)
March 26 – Ramanavami (Hindu)
March 26 – Birthday of the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian)
Mar 29 – Palm Sunday (Christian – Protestant & Catholic)
March 30 – Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)
March 31 – Hydesville Day (Spiritual)

April
Apr 1 – Passover begins (Jewish)
Apr 3 – Good Friday (Christian)
Apr 5 – Easter (Christian)
Apr 9 – End of Passover (Jewish)
Apr 11 – End of Good Lent (Christian – Orthodox)
Apr 14 – Vaisakhi (Sikh)
Apr 20 – Ridván Festival begins (Bahá’í)

May
May 1 – Beltane / Bealtaine (Pagan)
May 1 – Vesak / Buddha Day (Buddhist)
May 2 – Ridván Festival ends (Bahá’í)
May 14 – Ascension Day (Christian)
May 21-23 – Shavuot (Jewish)
May 24 – Pentecost (Christian – Catholic & Orthodox)
May 26-27 – Eid al-Adha (Islam)

June
June 17 – Hijri New Year / Islamic New Year (Islam)
June 21 – Summer Solstice / Litha / Alban Hefin (Pagan)

July
July 22-23 – Tisha B’Av (Jewish)

Swipe Access

First talk to your Chaplain Advisor about swipe access. Swipe access may be granted to a student for a specific purpose.

Upon receiving approval from your Chaplain Advisor, please complete this McAlister Swipe Access Form and to agree to our McAlister Policies and General Meeting Room Rules Agreement. Completing this form does not guarantee access and any violation of the policy may result in losing your card swipe access. Please be sure to get e-mail confirmation from us before you rely on getting into McAlister with your swipe access.

Note: Under normal circumstances, our spaces are available for individual students to relax and enjoy when not in use for a service or program. Please consult the event calendar for vacancies, but please note that not every event or reservation will be reflected in the calendar. Also, please be aware that set-up/take-down can make a room unavailable for as long as 48-72 hours before or after an event, especially in the case of the Lounge. You can always call us if you have a questions about availability.

Reserve A Space

Before inquiring about scheduling, please check the Chaplaincy calendar for availability.

Groups that want to request space or make a standing reservation must first be a recognized religious/spiritual organization and have completed the Religious Preference Form for the current school year. Once that has been completed, please contact your Chaplain Advisor and/or email chaplains@claremont.edu. Responses are usually sent within 48 – 72 hours. You must also agree to abide by our “General Meeting Room Rules“.

One-time reservations for groups that are not recognized religious/spiritual organization will be considered if space is available. Please contact chaplains@claremont.edu. Responses are usually sent within 48 – 72 hours.