Spirituality & Religious Life

If we take something to be the truth, we may cling to it so much that even if the truth comes and knocks at our door, we won't want to let it in."--Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Understanding

Spirituality, Service & Social Justice (SSSJ) seeks to foster and nurture a deeper connection between the self and the world in which we live. For some, this may take the form of spiritual growth and exploration. For others, this connection is best found through service to the community. Still others experience this in seeking to engage and challenge the systems and structures that create inequality and prejudice in the world. We support many paths to encourage students, faculty, and staff to explore these deep connections while living, studying or working at Puget Sound.

Whether you find the Sacred through a religious tradition, in the beauty of the natural world, or in the best of human effort and inquiry, our resources, services, and support are available to you. We invite you to explore ways to engage body, mind, and spirit during your time at the University of Puget Sound, and welcome students of all faiths and convictions to join us in an open examination of values, ethics, and beliefs and the ways that those can be lived out in a pluralistic society.

Please feel free to contact our staff (by clicking on their name below) for additional information or to share your ideas and dreams about spirituality, service and social justice on our campus!

• Dave Wright '96, University Chaplain and Director of Spirituality, Service & Social Justice
• Jacki Pearce-Droge, Director of the Community Involvement and Action Center
• Roman Christiaens, Social Justice Coordinator
• Erica Martin, Affiliate Chaplain for Jewish Life
• Helen Garczynski, Office Coordinator