Resources for Students

Coaching Future Faith Leaders

Preaching Internship Program: For Gustavus students wanting to explore and learn more about the craft of preaching, each semester the Chaplains' Office offers a Preaching Internship program. For more information and to apply, click here

Counseling

The Chaplains serve as a confidential counselor, offering a safe and supportive space for you to process grief, trauma, and personal crises. Trained to provide compassionate care, the chaplains can help you navigate emotional and spiritual challenges. Whether facing loss, identity struggles, or moments of crisis, you can turn to the chaplains for guidance, comfort, and healing.

Spiritual direction

The Chaplains can provide you with spiritual direction by helping you explore questions of meaning, purpose, and faith. Through one-on-one conversations, the Chaplains support students from all backgrounds in deepening their spiritual lives and faith formation.

Supporting faith traditions

ELCA - Lutheran

Gustavus is ELCA Lutheran, not sectarian; it favors the Lutheran tradition and Lutheran values, including religious services, but does not seek religious uniformity. There are worship services multiple times a week.

Catholicism

  • The Newman Center is a group of students dedicated to building a deeper understanding of the Roman Catholic faith. Activities include fellowship events, campus-wide prayer services and masses, car pools to mass at the Church of St. Peter, and work with the St. Peter Catholic youth group. 
  • Catholic Rosary Prayer happens Monday-Friday from 11:30-11:50 a.m.

Buddhism

You may use the Bonnier Multifaith Center for personal prayer or meditation.

Islam

  • The Bonnier Multifaith Center is designed for Muslim prayer as well as activities from diverse traditions. Accommodations include wheelchair-accessible washing stations, prayer rugs and hijabs, a folding screen, and ceiling lights that indicate the direction of Mecca. When the Multifaith Center is in use by a group, students are welcome to borrow prayer rugs and hijabs to pray in a nearby room.
  • Tasbih beads and counters are available in the Office of the Chaplains in Old Main.
  • During Ramadanin ordinary times, the Bonnier Multifaith Center is reserved every afternoon and evening for Muslim prayer. Dining Services works with Muslim students and the Chaplains' office to provide delicacies like samosas/sambusas and to have special foods available in the Marketplace. Faculty are alerted to the holiday so that Muslim students can schedule exams earlier in the day if they desire. Gustavus partners with the St. Peter Islamic Center to ensure that Muslim students can attend prayers and iftar each night during Ramadan. 
  • Dining services serves halal meat several times per week, including Fridays. 
  • Gustavus has an active chapter of the Muslim Students Association, whose goal is to support Muslim students and educate the campus community about Islam and the experiences of Muslims. All are welcome to join. The MSA sponsors educational and social events for Muslim students and the campus as a whole. 

Judaism

The Chaplains' Office has resources for students interested in celebrating Shabbat and holidays. 

  • Candles, juice, and copies of the Mishkan T'filah for Gatherings siddur (prayer book) are available in the Bonnier Multifaith Space, along with candlesticks and lighter. Please do not leave candles burning unattended and follow other Multifaith Center guidelines (no food consumed on premises). 
  • The Chaplains Office has a copy of the Koren Shabbat Evening Siddur and plastic reusable Kiddush Cups.