Interfaith Cooperation

Mission Statement

Advance Dominican University’s mission by engaging diverse religious, spiritual, and value-based worldviews through study, contemplation, dialogue, and cooperation in order to create a supportive interfaith environment and prepare our community for global citizenship.

The Dominican University Interfaith Cooperation Committee is a group of university faculty, staff and student leaders.

Study

The Interfaith Cooperation Committee is designed to equip and encourage faculty and staff to design curriculum and programming that guides students to explore, through dialogue, their own and others’ religious, spiritual, and value-based worldviews and traditions; to develop religious literacy involving multiple traditions; to identify within these traditions the bases for dialogue and cooperation; to explore the history of that dialogue and cooperation; and to engage persons and communities with diverse faith perspectives and worldviews to address contemporary social concerns.

We work closely with Interfaith America (formerly IFYC) to train student leaders who are prepared to engage with religious diversity on our campus and beyond. Interfaith America promotes the idea that “a less divided and more pluralistic future requires new leaders at its core. When they leave college equipped with the vision, knowledge, and skills to positively engage difference, our religiously diverse democracy can and will flourish.”

Contemplation

The interfaith prayer and meditation space is located on the second floor of Mazzuchelli Hall, and can be accessed through the east end of the Noonan Reading Room. The space is open to people of all faith traditions and worldviews for prayer, contemplation, and meditation. 

The labyrinth is an ancient circular symbol dating back to 200 B.C.E. It is found in various forms and in many cultures around the world, including Greece, Egypt, Tibet, and the Celtic Isles.  It is a spiritual tool for prayer and meditation similar to practices from a variety of religious traditions, such as a rosary, Buddhist walking meditation, indigenous walkabouts, or the way of the cross.  Dedicated in 2015, the labyrinth at Dominican University is located on the west campus and was a gift from Dianne Costanza and Mary Komperda.

Dialogue

The University Ministry-sponsored programs in Interfaith Relationship include guest speakers, speed-faithing, coffee houses, visits to different places of worship, service trips, and interfaith prayer experiences. 

Cooperation

Dominican University is a member of our local Community of Congregations.

Dominican University is named by the Interfaith America as a national leader in “practices for interfaith excellence in higher education” and works actively with our colleague institutions across the country to advance interfaith cooperation as a strategic priority.