Although interest in religious life in general is growing at Tufts - several hundred students attend Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic services each week - students flock to Jewish and Catholic services in disproportionate numbers. Each Friday, approximately 150 students attend Shabbat services in Hillel; on Sunday night, 200 to 300 students attend Catholic mass in Goddard Chapel.
Sophomore Lara Saipe has been an active member of Tufts' Jewish community since her freshman year, participating in various Hillel-sponsored events. She said the Hillel community at Tufts offers Jewish students a comfortable place to worship and socialize. "I just love the people at Hillel," she said. "Everyone is really friendly and inviting. It makes it feel like a safe and welcoming place to be."
In addition to the warm social atmosphere at Hillel, Saipe said the tenets of the Jewish faith also foster a sense of community. "Judaism is a very community-based religion," she said. "You're expected to pray with other people."
While a significant number of Jewish students attend services and other religious and social events at Hillel, the Catholic community at Tufts does not have as strong a social presence. Although many students attend Sunday mass, some believe the Catholic community has not yet established a strong social outlet for students.
Many who attend Catholic services see attending mass as a obligation. "People think they have a responsibility to come to mass on Sunday," said senior Becky Pawlak, a member of the executive board of the Catholic Community at Tufts.
But Catholicism is about more than just attending mass. Pawlak said that since she first came to Tufts, she has seen the Catholic community grow socially, too. "I think it might continue to grow," she said. "We're trying to get people motivated."
Interim University Chaplain Patricia Budd Kepler, a Presbyterian minister, agrees, admitting that certain aspects of religious life on campus could be strengthened. She cited both the Protestant and the Muslim communities as faiths that are trying to better establish themselves in the Tufts community despite various obstacles, including the absence of a full-time support staff and worship space. "I think that religion on campus is vital, but there are some
areas that need a little bolstering," she said.
There are several strong, active Protestant-based student groups on campus, such as the Asian Christian Fellowship (ACF) and the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF), that encourage students to explore their spirituality. Sophomore Lydia Sullivan, a TCF member, said the group welcomes students to join in their fellowship programs, such as weekly worship, meetings, and Bible study. "I would say we're a pretty open, welcoming group," she said.
But some Protestant students on campus are not comfortable or familiar with the more conservative, evangelical styles of fellowship and worship that both ACF and TCF have adopted. Since both groups have strong Protestant followings on campus, some have had difficulty establishing more liberal groups. "[ACF and TCF] draw in a large part of the active Protestant fellowship," said sophomore Vicky Hartanto, a Presbyterian student.
However, the Protestant Student Fellowship (PSF) and the Protestant worship service at Goddard Chapel on Sunday evenings are starting to attract Protestant students who haven't found their niche in ACF or TCF. Although the Protestant service is not well attended, it acts as a support to a growing number of students. "There is a great community there," said sophomore Nick Donlan, a member of PSF. "Everyone knows each other and most people take a role in the church service at some point."
Donlan said that one of the difficulties in establishing a strong, inclusive Protestant community is the divided nature of Protestantism itself. Protestantism encompasses many different sects, ranging from Presbyterian to Methodist to Episcopalian. But the Protestant service at Tufts is a general one that does not cater to any specific sect. Some students find it difficult to adjust to the mix of traditional and contemporary styles. According to Pawlak, there are Protestants at Tufts who attend Catholic mass because they are more used to its traditional-style service.
"When people come here I think that some of them identify with a particular branch of Protestantism," Donlan said. "But that is not what the Protestant service is."
Despite various obstacles, many students and staff are optimistic that all of Tufts' religious denominations and organizations will continue to expand. "There is definitely room for growth," Donlan said. "It is very important for a religious group to be able to accept new people and grow."
