Open to all faith groups, the Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Center at Westfield State College serves as the hub of all kinds of religious activities for students and the entire college community. Clergy of various faiths serve as chaplains. No matter what your religion, they are there to listen, to guide, and to offer activities which promote fellowship, spiritual growth, and a humanitarian outlook. If you are looking for worship services, counseling by chaplains, or a spiritual retreat, come to the Interfaith Center.

Services and Activities

Services
To find out about specific religious services, see the printed schedule or contact the designated chaplains, listed on the back of this brochure. Traditionally there is aThanksgiving service at the Interfaith Center before Thanksgiving Day with leadership by all three chaplains and by students. Memorial services are scheduled as needed.

Religious Counseling
A full-time campus minister supported by the Roman Catholic Church is often on campus, and clergy from the major faiths are readily available-simply a phone call away, day or evening. Contact the chaplains listed on the back of this brochure. Clergy representing the major denominations are invited to use the Center for counseling and worship services.

Meditation
The Center is periodically open to all students and college employees as a place of quiet for meditation and thought.

Special Programs
Chaplains may run informal discussion groups on current topics of concern, relating the difficulties, joys and decisions of daily life to personal values and faith. Student suggestions are welcome.

Volunteer Opportunities
Check with the clergy to find out about student projects which you may want to become involved in. Past projects have included community outreach efforts, such as serving at soup kitchens and visiting nursing homes.

Facilities

The Center's main worship area seats about 100. No religious symbols may be permanently affixed inside or outside the Center, so that religious groups using the Center are responsible for bringing and removing any symbols or artifacts particular to their faiths.

The chapel features a magnificent pipe organ, with two manuals and pedalboard and three and one-half ranks of pipes. The organ may be used by bona fide musicians familiar with such instruments, especially by organ students from the music department.

There are two private offices for clergy and three small meeting rooms on the lower level.

The Interfaith Center does not have facilities for preparing or serving food. However, appropriate refreshment service may be provided by the campus food service through prior arrangement with the college's Conference Services office.

Scheduling the Center

Student members of the Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Bahai, Hindu, or Mormon faiths, as well as all kinds of Christians, are invited to use the Interfaith Center by request through the chaplains.

The Center can be used regularly by off-campus religious groups, especially if students are to be included, through arrangement with the chaplains and the Board of Directors. A donation is appropriate.

Weddings may be scheduled as well, provided there is no previously scheduled religious service; many college alumni have been married in the Interfaith Center.

The college's Conference Services Office handles scheduling of the Interfaith Center. For information, call 413-572-5432.

Supporting the Center

The Interfaith Center was dedicated on May 16, 1982. Albert F. and Amelia Ferst of Westfield-for whom the Center is named-demonstrated extraordinary generosity in championing the cause, and taking the lead in the first joint fundraising effort in the history of Westfield State College, involving caring students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni of the college, and the people, businesses, organizations, and churches of Greater Westfield. The Fersts also donated the Center's pipe organ, in memory of their parents.

The Center is privately supported and has its own Board of Directors. A liaison from the college sits with the board.

The Interfaith Center's operation and maintenance require ongoing funding through the goodwill of those who use it and respect its mission. Inquiries and contributions may be directed to

The Interfaith Center
Westfield State College Foundation, Inc.
Westfield State College
P.O. Box 1630
Westfield, Mass. 01086-1630

Interfaith Center Chaplains

There are three chaplains serving the college community. The Roman Catholic chaplain maintains a working office in the building, and the Protestant chaplain, at the church next to the college on Western Avenue, is on call at all hours.

Rev. John Dean, Catholic Chaplain
c/o Westfield State College Ferst Interfaith Center
Telephone: 413/572-5567 (office)

Rev. Ruth M. Brandon, Protestant Chaplain
Pastor, United Church of Christ, Second Congregational Church
Telephone: 413/568-7557 (office), 413/562-6365 (home)
Email: arembe@mac.com

Rabbi Joyce Galaski, Jewish Chaplain
Telephone: 413/253-3517
Email: RabbiJoyce@aol.com

Roman Catholic Worship and Activities

MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday: 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. in Wilson Auditorium A Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Interfaith Center Advent and Lent: Monday through Friday, Mass is at 7:30 a.m. in the Interfaith Center. Holy Days: There will be at least two Masses each Holy Day at a time and place publicized in advance. Notes: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated before or after Mass or by appointment. On long weekends, the 12:00 noon Mass is not celebrated.

RETREATS

Retreats are offered during the academic year for those who are interested.

SPECIAL MINISTRIES

Eucharistic Ministers: Students who qualify may take a mini-course held during the year to train to be special ministers of the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Ministers help to give Communion at Mass. Lectors: Students may sign up to read at Mass. Sacristan: The Sacristans help to set up for Mass (the special table, altar cloth, candles, etc.). They also help to put everything away after Mass.

COURSE OFFERINGS

Introduction to Catholicism:
A course for those interested in becoming Catholic and also for those who are Catholic but would like to learn more and deepen their understanding of their faith and commitment as a Catholic Christian.

Bible Study:
A course will be offered in Holy Scripture. It will give one an opportunity to become more familiar with the Bible and will help to deepen one's understanding of Sacred Scripture.

Confirmation:
Anyone who has not made his or her Confirmation may sign up for a course to be given individually to students. Each student meets with Fr. Dean at a time convenient for the student (morning, afternoon, evening) and discusses the 15 chapters of a book entitled, "In His Light." Confirmation takes place each year in the Spring.

Special Apostolates for Christian Commitment:
Soup Kitchen volunteers; CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teachers); Veteran's Hospital Program (visit sick); Companionship Program - (help elderly and special needs people).

Protestant Worship and Activities

Rev. Ruth M. Brandon, Protestant Chaplain
Pastor, United Church of Christ, Second Congregational Church Telephone: 413/568-7557 (office), 413/562-6365 (home) Email: arembe@mac.com

The Rev. Ruth M. Brandon is full-time pastor at the church next to campus and only part-time on campus.Readily available for consultation, pastoral care, or special programming as needed.

Sunday Mornings:
10:00 a.m.
Protestant worship service in the United Church of Christ on Western Avenue before the athletic fields. The chaplain is full-time pastor there. Students, faculty, and staff are most welcome not only for worship, but for all other activities. Other churches in town also welcome you.

Sunday Evenings:
7:30-8:00 p.m.
Vesper Services in the Interfaith Chapel on campus, worship, praise, prayer in Protestant style - relatively informal - varied leadership sometimes by students, sometimes by persons from churches in town, including the chaplain - occasional Communion Service will be more traditional. 8:00-9:00 p.m. (following the Vesper Service) "Dare to Discover" - Creative exploration of wide variety of current topics of concern; relating difficulties, joys and decisions of daily life to personal values and faith - your suggestions for the series welcome.

Wednesdays
Noon-1:30 p.m. - Protestant chaplain usually available for informal conversation and just to get acquainted with you at Ely Lounge.

Other Activities
Churches in town sometimes offer to host students unable to go home for holidays. Chaplain Brandon can facilitate if you have need. They may also occasionally run services at the Interfaith Center or invite participation in Bible Study or other special religious activities.

Jewish Worship and Activities

Rabbi Joyce Galaski is Westfield College's new Rabbi and is available to all students on an appointment by appointment basis. You can contact her by calling 413-253-3517 or by emailing her at RabbiJoyce@aol.com, which she checks regularly. The campus Jewish community is currently working on connecting with similar groups in the Springfield, Five-College, Hartford and Boston areas for broadening the scope of social and religious activities, and on creating a Hillel organization at Westfield State.

Students are invited to attend Shabbat services through the local synagogue, Agudas Achim, which meets in the Interfaith Center.