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Department of Spiritual Life and Service

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Activities

Department of Spiritual Life and Service Community Meetings

With over 1,300 student members, the Department of Spiritual Life and Service is the largest student group at Marist. Each month year-level community meetings are held, which include presentations, announcements and fellowship.

Religious Communities

  • ARISE 

    Evangelical Christian students meet weekly for praise, Bible Study and fellowship.

  • Catholic Connections

    Our Catholic Student group meets 3 times a month.  Provides support for students seeking to grow in their faith through prayer, service, and social gatherings.

  • Christ Life Groups

      These groups meet weekly for support and conversation arouns a Gospel passge, connecting to their lives today.

  • Jewish Activities

    Rabbi Rena Blumenthal coodinates Jewish student activities from monthly Shabbats to a Seder Meal around Passover, as well as, advising our Hillel Club.

  • Orthodox Christians

       This group meets on Sunday nights. You can also join them for Church services in the community on Sunday mornings.

  • QUEST

    Protestant students from the mainline traditions gather each week for Bible study.

Prayer and Worship

  • Chapel

     Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel is open daily for quiet prayer from 7:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M.        

The Inter-Faith Prayer Room

        Located in the Chapel, is open for quiet prayer from 7:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M.        

  • Catholic Services

    Mass Schedule:

  • Monday through Thursday at 12:15 P.M. and on Sundays at 6:30 P.M.

  • Sacrament of Reconciliation:
    Weekly on Wednesdays from 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm during the semester and by appointment.

    Sacramental Preparation (R.C.I.A.):
    This program is for any student interested in investigating the way of life, beliefs and rituals of the Catholic Church, with a view towards being baptized Catholic or completing the Sacraments of Initiation: Eucharist/Confirmation.

    Liturgical Ministries:
    Students are encouraged to participate in any of our Liturgical Ministries, including serving as Eucharistic Ministers, lectors and Greeters.

    Liturgical Choir:
    The Choir facilitates the sung prayer at the Sunday Evening Mass. Musicians are always welcome.  The Choir is open to all students, faculty and staff.  Rehearsal is held for one hour in the Chapel before 6:30 PM Mass on Sundays. Join us! 

  • Other Christian Services

    Christian Prayer and Worship is held weekly in the two student groups: QUEST (for Protestants in the mainline traditions) and ARISE (formerly Campus Christian Fellowship). In addition, there are occasional inter-denominational services held on campus. A lisiting of off-campus local worship services is available from the Department of Spiritual Life and Service office.

  • Jewish Services

    Transportation is provided to services for the High Holy Days.  Shabbat Services followed by a dinner will be scheduled on several Friday evenings. Please refer back to our Fall 2020 semester calendar for further information. The Seder Meal is celebrated on campus each Spring.

  • Local Area Places of Worship

Baptist:       First Baptist Church   164 S. Cherry Street Poughkeepsie      845-454-1340  

Buddhist:    Kagyu Thubten Choling Monastery    245 Sheafe Road  Wappingers Falls     845-297-5761

Catholic:      Regina Coeli    2 Harvey Street  Hyde Park    845-229-2134   

                      St. Mary's   1o Lafayette Place Poughkeepsie  845-425-2333  

Christian Scientist: First Church of Christ, Scientist  132 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie  845-454-2880  

Congregational:  First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ  269 Mill St.  Poughkeepsie   845-454-2960

Episcopalian:  Christ Episcopal  20 Carroll St.  Poughkeepsie  845-452-8220 

                           St. Paul's  161 Madison St.  Poughkeepsie   845-452-8440 

Greek Orthodox:  Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church  140 Grand Ave.  Poughkeepsie  845-452-0772 

Jewish:  Congregation Schomre Israel (Modern Orthodox) 18 Park Ave.  Poughkeepsie  845-454-2890

                Temple Beth-el (Conservative) 118 Grand Ave. Poughkeepsie  845-454-0570 

                Vassar Temple (Reform) 67 S. Randolph Ave. Poughkeepsie   845-454-2570

 Lutheran:  First Evangelican Lutheran 325 Mill St. Poughkeepsie  845-452-6050 

                     St. John's  55 Wilbur Blvd. Poughkeepsie  845-452-1550 

 Methodist:   Poughkeepsie United 2381 New Hackensack Rd. Poughkeepsie  845-452-2933 

                        Smith Metroploitan AME Zion  124 Smith St. Poughkeepsie   845-454-1913  

 Mormon:  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  204 Spackenkill Rd. Poughkeepsie  845-462-2470 

 Non-Denominational Protestant: Faith Assembly of God: Evangelical Christian 254 Spackenkill Rd. Poughkeepsie  845-462-5826

                                                               Church of God of Prophecy: Redeemer Christian  100 Cannon St. Poughkeepsie 845-337-3611

                                                               Salvation Army Poughkeepsie Corps.  19 Pershing Ave.  Poughkeepsie  845-471-1210

Presbyterian:  First Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Valley  1576 Main St.(Rt. 44) Pleasant Valley  845-635-3289  

Quaker:  Poughkeepsie Friends Meeting  249 Hooker Ave.  Poughkeepsie  845-454-2870 

Reformed:  Reformed Church 70 Hooker Ave.  Poughkeepsie  845-452-8110

Seventh Day Adventist:  Trinity Temple  14 Bridge St.  Poughkeepsie  845-471-5815  

Unitarian Universalist: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 67 S. Randolph Ave. Poughkeepsie  845-471-6580

Retreats

  • The Marist College Retreat Program offers Retreats throughout the year for all students. They are organized and run by trained Student Retreat Leaders. 
  • Connect: First-Year Student Overnight Retreat

    This retreat gives students an opportunity to meet other classmates while sharing on topics such as adjusting to college and making room for God.

  • Other Retreat Opportunities

Outdoor retreats, topical retreats, and other retreats are offered throughout the year (Yoga, Cooking, Women's, Men's, Buddhist Mindfulness Retreat, Interfaith Retreat etc). The various groups within the Department of Spiritual Life and Service office offer Retreats each year. These include: the Catholic Student Retreat, QUEST (Protestant) Retreat, Men's Spirit Retreat and the Women's Spirit Retreat.

Spiritual & Community Building Programs

  • Inter-Faith Group

This group brings together students from various faith traditions to organize and provide opportunities for Marist College students to learn about similarities and differences among religious traditions. The Interfaith Group seeks to promote mutual understanding, respect, and inter-religious harmony.

  • Women's Spirit Group

Each week 3 Women's Spirituality Groups are held for First Year Students. The others are for sophomores, juniors and seniors. These groups offer an opportunity for women to gather in an experience of women's spirituality. 

  • Men's Spirit Group

    Men's Groups meet each week for conversations on topics selected by the group. These topics might include: spirituality, personal identity, relationships and transitions into college.            

Service

Marist College has a great tradition of service to others. The following programs are offered to all students:

  • Weekly Service

    Students volunteer time each week serve in local schools and social agencies. Click here for more information.

  • Special Community Service

    For students who are interested and able to occasionally serve those in need. Projects include: Community Service Day, collecting food for local food pantries, assisting local schools with Friday evening or weekend events, sorting for the coat drive, collecting for clothing drives or toiletry drives.

  • Hunger Awareness Month

November is Hunger Awareness Month at Marist. The goal of the program is to raise consciousness to the needs of those who are poor locally, nationally and internationally; and to raise money to help fight hunger. Activities include: The Walk/Run for Hunger, Buck Hunger Days, a campus wide Food Collection, a Hunger Awareness Meal and Petition Day.

  • Giving Tree Project

Each December the Marist community, through its various clubs, organizations, offices and individual efforts provides over 30 families in need with holiday gifts.

  • Post-Graduate Volunteer Opportunities

Seniors are encouraged to give a year of service after graduation. Many programs provide housing, a stipend and loan deferral allowing graduates to serve those in need both in the USA and abroad.