Name: Catholic Mass
Start: 2026-09-06T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-09-06T11:00:00-07:00
Location: McAlister Center

Religious and Spiritual Life

Located in the McAlister Center, Religious and Spiritual Life offers a vibrant schedule of weekly worship services, educational programs, interfaith initiatives, community gatherings, and celebrations of religious and cultural observances throughout the academic year. Through pastoral care, mentorship, and community engagement, Religious and Spiritual Life seeks to support the holistic well-being of students as they pursue their academic, personal, and spiritual journeys.

Contact

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

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

Religious and Spiritual Life Office Factsheet
Join our Mailing List

Who We Are

Religious and Spiritual Life at The Claremont Colleges supports the spiritual, religious, and ethical development of the campus community through compassionate care, meaningful programming, and opportunities for learning, reflection, and dialogue. The office is home to four full-time Chaplains—a Rabbi, an Imam, a Catholic Priest, and a Protestant Minister—who serve as confidential spiritual counselors and trusted resources for students, faculty, and staff.

While each Chaplain represents a particular faith tradition, they are committed to supporting people of all religious backgrounds, spiritual identities, and worldviews. They work collaboratively to foster inclusive communities, strengthen individual faith and spiritual well-being, encourage interreligious understanding, and create spaces where questions of meaning, purpose, and belonging can be explored with openness and respect.

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 2026 - 2027

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.

MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS 2026 – 2027

FALL 2026

August
Aug 1 – Lughnasadh / Lammas (Paganism)
Aug 15 – Assumption of Mary (Christianity)
Aug 28 – Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)

September
Sept 4 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism)
Sept 8-14 – Paryushana Parva (Jainism)
Sept 11-13 – Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
Sept 14 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)
Sept 15 – Samvatsari / Day of Forgiveness (Jainism)
Sept 20-21 – Yom Kippur (Judaism)
Sept 22 – Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Alban Elfed (Paganism)
Sept 25-Oct 2 – Sukkot (Judaism)

October
Oct 2-4 – Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah (Judaism)
Oct 4 – Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Christianity)
Oct 11-19 – Sharada Navaratri (Hinduism)
Oct 12 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Public Holiday)
Oct 20 – Dussehra / Vijayadashami (Hinduism)
Oct 31-Nov 1 – Samhain / Samhuinn (Paganism)

November
Nov 1 – All Saints’ Day (Christianity)
Nov 2 – All Souls’ Day (Christianity)
Nov 8 – Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism)
Nov 9 – Jain New Year & Day of Enlightenment (Jainism)
Nov 10 – Birth of the Bab (Bahai)
Nov 11 – Birth of Bahaullah (Bahai)
Nov 24 – Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Sikhism)
Nov 29 – First Sunday of Advent (Christianity)

December
Dec 4-12 – Chanukah/Hanukkah (Judaism)
Dec 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
Dec 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Christianity)
Dec 21 – Winter Solstice / Yule / Alban Arthan (Paganism)
Dec 25 – Christmas (Christianity)
Dec 26 – Kwanzaa begins (Pan-African)

SPRING & SUMMER 2027

January
Jan 1 – Kwanzaa ends (Pan-African)
Jan 6 – Epiphany (Christianity)
Jan 7 – Orthodox Christmas / Nativity of Christ (Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
Jan 22-23 – Tu BiShvat (Judaism)

February
Feb 1-2 – Imbolc (Paganism)
Feb 6 – Lunar New Year (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism)
Feb 8 – Ramadan begins (Islam)
Feb 10 – Ash Wednesday (Christianity)
Feb 21 – Magha Puja / Sangha Day (Buddhism)

March
Mar 2-20 – Nineteen-Day Fast (Bahai)
Mar 6 – Laylat al-Qadr (Islam)
Mar 6 – Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism)
Mar 9-10 – Ramadan Ends / Eid al-Fitr (Islam)
Mar 20 – Spring Equinox / Ostara / Alban Eilir (Paganism)
Mar 21 – Naw-Ruz / Bahai New Year (Bahai)
Mar 21 – Palm Sunday (Christianity)
Mar 22 – Holi (Hinduism)
Mar 22-23 – Purim (Judaism)
Mar 26 – Good Friday (Christianity)
Mar 28 – Easter (Christianity)

April
Apr 14 – Vaisakhi / Sikh New Year (Sikhism)
Apr 19 – Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism)
Apr 21 – Passover begins (Judaism)
Apr 21 – First Day of Ridvan (Bahai)
Apr 29 – Passover ends (Judaism)
Apr 29 – Ninth Day of Ridvan (Bahai)
Apr 30 – Orthodox Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox Christianity)

May
May 1 – Beltane / Bealtaine (Paganism)
May 2 – Twelfth Day of Ridvan (Bahai)
May 2 – Pascha / Orthodox Easter (Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
May 6 – Ascension Day (Christianity)
May 16 – Pentecost (Christianity)
May 17 – Eid al-Adha (Islam)
May 20 – Vesak / Buddha Day (Buddhism)
May 24 – Declaration of the Bab (Bahai)
May 29 – Ascension of Bahaullah (Bahai)

June
June 6 – Hijri New Year / Islamic New Year (Islam)
June 10-12 – Shavuot (Judaism)
June 14-15 – Ashura (Islam)
June 21 – Summer Solstice / Litha / Alban Hefin (Paganism)

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.

Meet the RSL Staff

Student Organizations

Religious & Spiritual Events

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