Multifaith Centre

Students' religious, spiritual, and secular identities have an essential place in a student's development. Value systems, knowledge, and understanding are developed and explored at University, and the faith students hold is a considerable part of that process.

Research suggests that "[s]tudents show significant spiritual growth during the first three years of college and spiritual growth appears to enhance other college outcomes such as academic performance and satisfaction with college… leadership, psychological well-being, intellectual self-esteem, commitment to diversity…, commitment to promoting racial understanding" (Astin & Astin, 2010). 

We believe it is essential to facilitate and offer space on campus for students to engage with, learn about, and connect with faith practices. We hope to provide opportunities for students to find those with like-minded ideas and beliefs and grow from the benefits of community support and spiritual practice during their academic journey. It is also important for students to have exposure to diverse perspectives, cultivating respect for ideas and values that may be different from their own. We want all students to be able to navigate the world, flourishing alongside people with different spiritual identities, opinions, and ideas.

At the Multifaith Centre (MFC) of Simon Fraser University, we aim to:

• Offer pastoral care and support for all individuals within the University, --students, staff, faculty, and those engaged in the community-- who has spiritual, emotional or practical needs.
• Work through bridge-building with others in the University, the wider community and with the churches, tabernacles, mosques, and temples to encourage individual spiritual growth and development.
• Provide opportunities for appropriate forms of regular worship, reflection, prayer, fellowship, outreach and celebration for all University community members. 
• Foster a lively, educational, and informed debate about issues throughout the University that have a spiritual, moral, or personal dimension; to sensitively unfold the relevance of spirituality and its necessity in what it means to be fully human.