Additional Communities of Practice
Macalester Alternative Faith Association
The Alternative Faith Association is a religious organization which covers a variety of religious traditions, from Hinduism to Druidism. It is open to all, whether religious, questioning, or curious, but due to the diversity of religions within the org itself, we focus more on community building with ceremonies during the major holidays. These celebrations include anything from a feast in good company to venturing out into the city to celebrate with others in the Twin Cities area.
Baha’i Faith
An investigation of the Baha’i faith through meetings, speakers and scripture studies. All are welcome.
Mac Catholics
Rooted in the Catholic Tradition, Mac Catholics form community through prayer, fellowship and reaching out in service and social justice. Our tradition offers a rich variety of prayer forms. We gather to pray in various experiences, including the Mass and retreats. As the gospel calls us, we also extend our hearts and hands to tend to the needs of our neighbors in acts of service and social justice.
Macalester Christian Fellowship
Mac Christian Fellowship is a community built on love, grace, and trust. We are a dynamic group of students who stand for Macalester’s four pillars, with Jesus Christ as the foundation. We meet for large group gathering on Tuesdays at 7 PM in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL – lower level). Our meetings vary from week to week but include worship, prayer, bible study, volunteering in the community, and fellowship through food and time spent together. We also have small groups that meet throughout the week and focus on different topics
Macalester Jewish Organization (MJO)
Macalester Jewish Organization brings students together around cultural, religious, and community centered events. We have shabbat services and dinner every other week, hold celebrations for holidays, and cook and eat together regularly. Our mission is to create a Jewish community where all students from all backgrounds feel comfortable. Events: Weekly MJO meetings are held in the Interfaith House (CRSL Tent – Garden Level) on Tuesday nights at 9 PM. Campus wide “Open Shabbat” services are held every other Friday night in the CRSL (specifics will be announced throughout the semester)
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
MSA aims to provide Muslim-identifying students with a supportive community. We gather weekly to discuss matters around faith, practice, and identity. On Fridays during Jum’ah prayer time, we meet in a more casual setting to eat lunch together, pray, and deepen our understandings of each other. Weekly meeting: TBD in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (CRSL).
Mac Protestants
Mac Protestants represents multi-denominational Protestants who support progressive perspectives of the Christian faith. At each of our meetings (The Gathering) we strive to foster authentic connection and encourage thoughtful faith-based discussion. We meet weekly on Sundays from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel. All are welcome regardless of faith-based background or experience.
Mac Quakers
Mac Quakers is a group dedicated to create a space for student reflection. As a religion, Quakers value simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship. We also work hard to respect the light within every individual. Alongside these beliefs, we strive for pacifism on personal, local, and global levels. MacQuakers meets twice a month, spending half an hour in silent worship, with a slow moving discussion for the remaining half hour. As with most Quaker spaces, this is a space meant for reflection and recharging.
Queer Faith Community
Queer Faith Community (QFC) is a vibrant community of people who identify with or are questioning both LGBTQIA+ identities and religious, spiritual, or practicing identities. We believe that these two types of identities do not have to be in conflict, but instead can work together in harmony and can be explored in an open and safe space which provides a platform to discuss religion, spirituality, and faith in tandem with sexuality and gender. QFC places an emphasis on confidentiality, so that those who need to have the ability to access support and open conversation without disclosing their identity.
Sitting@Mac
At the heart of Buddhist practice is the commitment to awaken. Through weekly practice of zazen meditation, we take our seat at the still point of a turning universe, to discover a stillness and clarity of mind attentive to each moment of life’s flow and the mystery of what we have always been. This group is open to anyone interested, no experience is necessary, and instructions will be provided. Sitting@Mac will meet on Wednesdays for meditation and Dharma talk at 4:45 PM in the Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel.
Mac Unitarian Universalists
Macalester Unitarian Universalists is a student-led organization that exists to encourage and promote students in the exploration of their spirituality through the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and the sharing of individual religious insights and personal faiths. Mac Unitarian Universalists aims to provide a comfortable space in which students may explore their spirituality and engage in thoughtful dialogue concerning the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism and an understanding of ways in which to engage the principles in everyday life. All are welcome regardless of faith tradition or background. Meetings are Biweekly on Sundays from 6:30-7:30 PM in the Weyerhaeuser Memorial Chapel.
The symbols pictured above were chosen by members of the religious or spiritual organizations.