- Home
- Find a Community
- Purple Prep
Purple Prep
An important part of your college experience is tending to your holistic wellbeing: spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional. Though we specialize in the spiritual, we are here to support you as a whole person with opportunities to connect, gather, and grow with one another and the ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ community.
Our primary spaces are in Parkes Hall—which is directly across from the Arch at Sheridan and Chicago Avenues. We have prayer, meditation and ritual spaces available for many different expressions and traditions as well as many spaces to hang out and get a cup of coffee or a snack!
We also work closely with our campus religious center partners including , , , the , , as well as many religiously affiliated .
Together, all of us are excited to meet you and help you connect to ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ in many ways. Here you will find some of the many ways that we welcome you to campus in the fall.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
Special Welcome Events in RSL
Meet and Greet RSL Staff at the Suite Spot!
Stop by to grab some snacks and a coffee or tea and meet the RSL team and partners.
Thursday, September 26 and October 3, 3:30-5:00 PM in Parkes Hall Room 120
RSL Weekly Programs During the Academic Year
The Suite Spot
3:30-4:30pm, each Thursday in Parkes Hall 120
A chance to drop in and hang out with others for snacks, conversation, and community. No preparation required!
Drop In Meditation
4:00 pm each Friday in Parkes Hall 204—open to all and no experience required
Jummah Prayer
Fridays at 1:10 pm in Pares Hall 122, congregational prayer for the Muslim community
Vedanta Satsang
Join Chaplain Amar Shah for classes on self-improvement and living healthier happier lives, using the language of Vedanta (the philosophical portions of Hinduism) - time and day for the 2024-2025 year TBD.
RSL Offerings
Individual Appointments with Chaplains
Individual Appointments with Chaplains
Our University Chaplains are confidential resources who are trained to meet with students of any or no religious affiliation about a variety of issues. Topics might include exploring the big questions in life, choosing a major, questions about meaning and purpose, or grief and loss.
- Request an individual appointment with a University Chaplain.
- Chaplain Drop in Hours
- Wednesday on the Chicago Campus
- Thursday and Friday on the Evanston Campus
Spiritual Direction
This is a guided program for those who are interested in a structured and formal exploration of Spiritual Practice.
Campus Religious Center Partner Events & Programs
Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry
Learn more here:
Visit us:
̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Hillel
If you’re looking to connect with Jewish students, you’ve come to the right place. Join us for…
Schmooze
Don’t miss out on our fantastic pre-orientation program that starts the day before Wildcat Welcome (Monday 9/16), with activities all day long and a bonfire in our backyard at night.
Shabbat at Hillel
̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Hillel hosts free homemade Shabbat dinner and services every Friday night. During Wildcat Welcome, join us for Reform and Conservative Services at 5pm and dinner at 5:30pm. All new students are welcome!
Welcome Back BBQ
Our Back to School BBQ is not to be missed! Come by Hillel (629 Foster) on the first day of classes to see old friends and make new ones. Delicious kosher BBQ will be served 5:30-7:30pm on Tues Sept 24.
High Holidays
̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Hillel offers Reform and Conservative services, free holiday meals, and other fun programming throughout the holidays. Services will be in Norris, meals will be at Hillel (629 Foster St).- Rosh Hashanah is Wednesday Oct 2 – Friday Oct 4
- Yom Kippur is Friday Oct 11 – Saturday Oct 12
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Weekly LCMNU Events
- Worship every Sunday, 11:00am
- Supper Worship every Wednesday, 6:00–6:45pm
- 21theo every Wednesday, 7:00–8:00pm (a time to learn and question)
Special September Events
- 17 Sunday: LCMNU Open House, 10:00–11:00am
- 19 Tuesday: Back to School BBQ 6:00–7:00pm
- 21 Thursday: Ice Cream and Game Night at 8:00–9:00pm
Sheil Catholic Center
Visit our website or follow us on Instagram to stay connected with your campus Catholic community.
IGNITE
The Sheil Catholic Center at ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ is here for you as you take the next step in your spiritual journey during your university experience. Please consider joining us for IGNITE, a welcome event for new students and your families that takes place on Monday, September 16th. The event includes Mass, dinner, and activities for students to get to know the Catholic community at ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ and for parents to meet our ministry team. .
LITURGY
at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. In addition, Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m. A Liturgy of the Word Service with Holy Communion is celebrated on Fridays at 5:00 p.m.
HARBOR: ADORATION AND CONFESSION
during the academic quarter from 8-9 p.m. Adoration takes place each week with either praise and worship music or silence during the holy hour. Food and fellowship takes place after Harbor. Two priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation each week.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
- Tuesday, September 24—Prayers and Popsicles
- Stop by the front lawn of the Catholic Center from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and receive a blessing on the first day of the new academic year and grab a popsicle.
- Sunday, September 29—Blessing of the Backpacks
- Bring your backpack to any Sunday Mass with you and get our 2024 Commemorative Backpack Tag as we offer a special blessing for the start of the academic year.
- Sunday, September 29—Student Sunday Night Dinner
- Join us for the 5:00 p.m. Mass and then stay after Mass for a home cooked meal to meet other students.
- Thursday, October 3—CaSA Fall Kick-Off
- Join the Catholic Students Association at 8:00 p.m. for an evening of food, games, and fellowship.
University Christian Ministry (United Methodist & Presbyterian) 
1834 Chicago Ave (next to Allison)
Casual Worship
Every Sunday @ 5pm (begins Sept 29)
Worship on couches in a circle in our living room is always followed by good conversation, snacks and even sometimes dinner! Welcome BBQ after worship on Sept 29.
Build-Your-Own Ice Cream Sundae
Monday Sept 23 @ 11am-1pm
On your Wildcat Welcome wellness day, make sure you take care of yourself. Stop by the table in front of our house to build-your-own sundae with all the toppings!
Community Service Opportunities
- "Stock the Shelves" for new refugees Tuesday Sept 24 @ 5:10pm
Celebrate your first day of class by helping load a truck full of household items for local refugees. Meet at UCM for rides. Our group usually grabs dinner somewhere afterwards. Opportunity offered monthly.
- Harvest the "Garden of Eatin'" Thursday Sept 26 @ 10am
Love the environment or gardening? Don't know anything but want to learn? Help harvest veggies and herbs from the urban farm in the UCM backyard. Deliver to Purple Pantry and support students experiencing food insecurity. Opportunity offered weekly.
- Pumpkin Unloading Saturday Oct 5 @ 9:30am
Help a church unload an entire tractor-trailer truck full of pumpkins from top to bottom! Proceeds from pumpkin sales support mission-- including UCM. Meet at UCM for rides and pizza is usually included.
Special Events in Alice Millar Chapel
Alice Millar Chapel Choir
Join the Alice Millar Chapel Choir! The Chapel Choir is a premiere collegiate choral ensemble that includes music majors and general campus students. Auditions are open to all ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Students. The Chapel Choir offers vibrant and engaging rehearsals and performances with challenging music from many musical periods and styles, from Renaissance to Gospel, and Romantic to Contemporary. Rehearsals are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:10 to 5:40 p.m. If interested, please set up a time to audition with Stephen Alltop, Director of Music via email.
Click For more info ̨ÍåÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ the Alice Millar Choir
Check out our Choir Information Video
Family Weekend Open House and Mini-Concert with the Alice Millar Chapel Choir
Sunday, November 10 | 10:30 am | Alice Millar Chapel
All are welcome to join the Alice Millar Chapel Choir for a morning of music and prayers
- 10:30 AM: Continental Breakfast Available and tours of Alice Millar Chapel
- 11:00 AM: Morning prayer blessing and music with the Alice Millar Chapel Choir
Fall Choir Concert :Â A Concert for Hope
- Friday, October 27 | 7:30pm | Alice Millar Chapel
- Alice Millar Chapel Choir and Soloists
- Stephen Alltop, conductor
- Eric Budzynski, organ
Friendsgiving Brunch for Students
- Thursday, November 21 | 6 pm | Alice Millar Chapel
A Festival of Lessons and Carols with the Alice Millar Chapel ChoirÂ
- Sunday, December 8 | 10:40 am | Alice Millar Chapel