Office of Religious & Spiritual Life

Be-Friend Initiative Begins on 3/22

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What is be-friend?
BE-FRIEND aims to pair Wes students with each other to connect and share thoughts, ideas, and themselves. It is open to all Wed students regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or ability. We hope to foster connections in the midst of a time characterized by social distancing and disconnect.

How it works:
Interested participants will complete an initial survey designed to help the chaplain’s office pair you with someone based on your preferences, including faith or no-faith tradition, gender identity, race/ethnicity/ethnic identity, and any specific preference you might have.

The program will begin on March 22 and go through the end of April. If the pair of “friends” want to continue to meet, in-person or online, that’s up to them. We will gather safely outside in early May to enjoy a celebratory meal (provided by a local restaurant). For those participating from elsewhere, we will mail a care package to their preferred address. Each participant will receive a free t-shirt.

Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/qE1HTwXpPQJMm9GZ8

 

Announcement for Be-Friend Initiative with flowers

Understanding, Validating & Healing From Trauma – 3/3 & 3/10

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You are invited to participate in a two-part series we will be offering to students in the Wes community regarding personal trauma and substance use on campus.

In the first part, Understanding, Validating & Healing From Trauma, Demetrius Colvin (SRC), Jami Carlacio (ORSL), and September Johnson (WesWell) will speak about various forms of trauma they have encountered and the coping mechanisms- both healthy and unhealthy- that they have used to deal with it. In the second part, Coping and Connecting in Crisis: Substance Use and Self-Care During College, the speakers will share their experience as it relates to substance use (in the family and personally) and again, how they found hope by using effective coping skills and seeking help.

The presentation blends storytelling with professional knowledge and aims to reach students through presenters personal accounts of trauma and substance use. The focus ultimately centers on coping, recovery, and resilience, with the message being that life is messy but/and that we can emerge from it whole when we have the right support and resources.  We ask that you promote these two events with students, staff, and/or faculty you know who may benefit from it, whether as a trauma sufferer/survivor or as a resource for anyone who might need help. To be clear, we hope to start a campus-wide conversation about the increased intensity of challenges facing college students today as they navigate illness, death, isolation, fear, and insecurity due to the pandemic and to the effects of structural racism.

The presentations will be held on:

Wednesday March 3 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/validatingtrauma

Facebook Link

Wednesday March 10 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/copingincrisis

Facebook Link

Please reach out to us if you have questions or comments, and thank you in advance for spreading the message.

Sincerely,

Demetrius Colvin, Jami Carlacio, and September Johnson

A Message from Chaplain Jami

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In times like these. . .

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I have been deeply troubled and grieved by the events of January 6, 2021 and feel an urgency to process the trauma and chaos that unfolded in our nation’s Capitol. As so many politicians, pastors, journalists, and members of the public have stated, we must keep our focus on the Higher Good: This is a time to claim truth, justice, and honor; it is a time to embrace hope in our democracy; it is a time to heal and turn our attention to caring for ourselves and our friends and family; and it is a time to embrace God’s love and honor God’s creation.

As the Protestant chaplain, I want you to know I am here for you. You may schedule a chat with me via Zoom.

I will also be holding space for grief, processing, and conversation on Monday, January 11th from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. You may come at any time, stay for as little or as long as you like.

Protestant Chaplain Drop-in Hours & Thanksgiving Service

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Protestant Chaplain Drop-In Hours

Via Zoom:
Monday 6:00-8:00 pm
Tuesday 8:15-9:00 pm
Wednesday 4:00-6:00 pm

Click HERE to schedule a time

In-person (on campus):
Tuesday 11:30-1:00 pm
2:00-5:30 pm
Wednesday 8:30-10:30 am

Email Jami Carlacio if you’d like to Zoom or talk via phone: jcarlacio@wesleyan.edu.

Thanksgiving Service at Memorial Chapel Graphic

Thanksgiving Service in Memorial Chapel

November 14th @ 4pm, EST in person and via-Zoom

Planned and led by Wes students . . .A mix of poetry, giving thanks, music, and Scripture that speaks to human connection and solidarity.

Click HERE to reserve a space in the Chapel
Click HERE for the unique Zoom link (no reservation needed)
Contact Lourdes Fitzgerald, class of ’23 for questions and to participate as a reader, singer, instrument-player, usher, program designer

ORSL Pastoral Counseling for the Wesleyan Community

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Hello Everyone,

I’m sending this message on behalf of the university chaplains. We know that this is a stressful time, and that in addition to the uncertainty of these times, many of us are dealing with the illness and loss of loved ones. The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life writes:

‘All of the chaplains at ORSL offer pastoral counseling to those who would like to connect with a confidential, nonjudgmental, listening presence. We are all comfortable working with people of any, all, or no faith backgrounds.

We have been doing this via phone and some of us via zoom for the past few weeks, and hope that people will continue to reach out to us individually.

We can be reached at: https://www.wesleyan.edu/orsl/meetchaplains.html

Rabbi David Leipziger Teva
Director, Religious and Spiritual Life
University Jewish Chaplain
Wesleyan University
860-227-5644

You may schedule a conversation with me via zoom or phone by going to calendly.com/dleipziger

Listening Circle: Check-In. Connect. Process on 3/24

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Listening Circle: Check-In. Connect. Process
Learn spiritual strategies to support yourself and others during these perplexing times. Facilitated by Rabbi David. For more info contact dleipziger@wesleyan.edu. For Wesleyan students.
Time: Tuesday, Mar 24, 2020, 12:30- 1 PM Eastern Time 
(US and Canada) Via Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 462 356 2192

Grief Support Circle Today – Tuesday, 1/28

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Grief Support Circle: Dani Jewell-Tyrcha

In light of Dani Jewell-Tyrcha’s recent death, a support circle is being offered where students can gather to process, grieve, reflect, and be in solidarity with one another today, Tuesday, 1/28, at 5pm in the ORSL Lounge at 169 High Street, second floor.

The circle will be facilitated by staff from the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Rabbi David Leipziger Teva