Mar. 30, 2020

A Message from the College Chaplains: PAUSE

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,

As our world deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all confronted with the challenge of change and continuity during this unprecedented time. We want you to know we are here for all members of the community: students, staff and faculty.

We know this crisis has exacerbated social inequalities and has targeted the most vulnerable among us. And while there are narratives of blame and scarcity, xenophobia and racism, social and economic anxiety, we invite you to pause for a moment, to breathe, and draw upon the strength of our community, spiritual rhythms and practices.

To that end, we will be offering space for the Conn community to gather remotely. We invite you to a weekly PAUSE, a time for prayer and poetry, silence and solidarity, from 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm EST on Tuesdays. Join the PAUSE gatherings via Zoom here.

Sincerely, 

Angela Nzegwu
Director of Religious and Spiritual Programs

Susan Schein
Director of Zachs Hillel House and College Chaplain

Jonathan Ficara
College Chaplain

Hajara Shareef
College Chaplain

"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "the Universe," a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of our consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." 

-Albert Einstein (adapted)