Religious and Spiritual Life

Active student organizations are listed here. If you do not see a group you are looking for, ask us how to start one. For more information about student programs, visit the Chaplain's Office in Sears Hall (connected to Morris Chapel), or send an email to religiouslife@shorinji-kempo.net.

Asian American Christian Fellowship

Black Campus Ministries Intervarsity

Health Sciences Christian Fellowship

Hillel Jewish Student Club

Indian Student Association

Interfaith Council Tigers Better Together

Muslim Student Association

Newman Catholic Community

Open Door Methodist Student Ministries

Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Pacific Christian Fellowship Intervarsity

Nest Prayer Family Christian Student Club

Tigers for Christ (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

Secular Student Alliance

Sikh Student Association

You're not alone. Many people are interested in religion and its effects on society, and our aim is to provide a safe place for you to explore the important questions you have. From time to time we host seminars, lectures, panel discussions, dialogue sessions, and respectful debates, and many of our student groups are involved in organizing these. There is a wealth of activity going on and we encourage you to get involved, especially if your interests are not represented. We need your help! From time to time the Chaplain's office works together with faculty members and others in our community to co-sponsor events. In doing so our aim is to bring about the fullest and most satisfying Pacific experience possible.

• Catholic Mass takes place during the academic year every Sunday evening at 8PM in Morris Chapel
• Morning Prayer in the Christian Tradition takes place during the academic year every Tuesday at 8:00 AM followed by a Fair Trade Cafe
• Buddhist Meditation takes place during the academic year every Wednesday evening at 5:30PM in Morris Chapel
• Morris Chapel and Sacred Space in Colliver Hall is open daily for prayer and meditation and can be accessed using your Pacific ID card (contact the Chaplain's Office for more information)
• Various interfaith and other services and events take place during the year. Please check Pacific's Events Calendar for details.

Interfaith is defined by the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) as the engagement of people from diverse traditions, such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Secular Humanism, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Baha'i, atheist, agnostic, and all other religious, non-religious, and philosophical traditions. Alternative words like "multifaith," "interreligious," or "multireligious" can be used interchangeably to articulate the same idea.

Yes, you may book a student event in the Chapel. Morris Chapel has booked Greek events such as initiations and pinning ceremonies, as well as religious and spiritual prayer meetings, bible studies, and other student events. To book the Chapel, or any of our meeting spaces, contact us or drop-in during business hours (M-F: 8:30am-5pm) to fill out a Facility Request Form and reserve your space. We are located in Sears Hall, the North-West wing of the Morris Chapel building. There is a $20/hour fee associated with booking the Chapel and meeting spaces. This covers the cost to have an Event Manager on staff, as most events and meetings occur after our business hours.

No.  Morris Chapel does not have any regulations on who can have their ceremony at the Chapel.  Each couple is required to bring their own minister.  As we are also a non-denominational Chapel, this means that a variety of couples, including interfaith, inter-denominational, same-sex, and multicultural, have enjoyed their wedding ceremonies at Morris Chapel.

If you would like a tour of the Chapel with one of our staff members, then we ask that you call us in advance and schedule a time to visit us.  If you would just like to stop by and check out the Chapel without a tour, you are more than welcome to walk through, so long as there is not a private event occurring.  Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm.  The Chapel is open on weekends for private events such as weddings, memorials, baptisms, and other such events.  We hold a Catholic Mass at 8pm on Sundays during the academic year, which is open to the public.  If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Yes. Morris Chapel is a non-denominational Chapel. The University of the Pacific was founded by Methodist Ministers, and is still related to the United Methodist Church. The chapel is Christian in look and feel, especially in terms or its stained glass window themes, inscriptions, crosses, and so on. For this reason we also have a Sacred Space prayer room that is less religiously specific in focus. It is beside Morris Chapel in Colliver Hall. Both spaces are open for use by all people.

Baccalaureate, a long standing tradition at Pacific, is a celebratory occasion on Commencement weekend, that honors our graduating class, often highlighting the religious and philosophical traditions of the student body. In addition to addresses and performances by various graduating students, we highlight the “Last Lecture”—a special lecture by a faculty member to share hypothetically “What wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?”