Interfaith Community Service and Catholic Identity
Loras College received the nation’s first President’s Award for Interfaith Community Service from the Corporation for National and Community Service. This nationwide designation is part of the Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and recognizes Loras and its students for their commitment to volunteer service. Visit our Community Based Learning & Volunteering page to learn more.
Loras College is a Catholic, diocesan college explicitly oriented to promote service of both church and world through encouraging all members of the community in development of their diverse professional, social, and religious roles. We strive to be a community demonstrating the highest standards of the Catholic intellectual tradition and welcoming all people into a dialogue to promote core values of truth, respect, responsibility, excellence, and service. Loras is proud to be a community demonstrating the highest standards of the Catholic intellectual tradition and welcoming all people into a dialogue to promote core values of truth, respect, responsibility, excellence and service. Learn more about our Catholic Identity.
Providing Interfaith Opportunities and Dialogue
Interfaith Leaders Scholarship Program
Our Interfaith Leaders Scholarship offers students the opportunity to explore how people orient around religion differently, and discover in themselves abilities to interact with people of diverse religious and worldview backgrounds. Through careful study, self-reflection, and responsible service, students will learn to lead others toward a deeper, more informed fellowship. Contact admission@loras.edu or visit loras.edu/interfaithleaders to apply or for more details.
Academic Opportunities
Several classes offered to all Loras College students explore the differences and similarities between faith traditions. Examples include Jesus and Ghandi, Islam in America and many more.
Interfaith Prayer Space
A safe and private space for spiritual and religious activities is one of the simplest, but most vital forms of support Loras can offer its students. The Interfaith prayer space opened in 2014 in the Alumni Campus Center, providing a sanctuary where people of all faiths, religious and non-religious traditions may retreat for prayer, meditation and spiritual activities. The location is available from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, in a safe, well-monitored location and also provides a venue for education surrounding the importance of sacred spaces in all traditions.
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Better Together Student Organization
Better Together is a national student organization that plans events, dialogues, and service opportunities for interfaith action. The campaign consists of student-led events that create space for people to voice their values, engage with people across lines of religious difference, and act together to make a better world. The organization is affiliated with the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) out of Chicago, Illinois.
Children of Abraham Series
The Children of Abraham program, a series of conversations between Jews, Muslims, and Christians, facilitated by community faith leaders and faculty member Dr. John Eby. Each conversation is focused on a specific topic, ranging from various prophets (Abraham, Moses) to the understanding of God to dimensions of experience (conversion, suffering) to social concepts and behaviors (peace, discrimination). Following the gospel principle of “love your neighbor as yourself,” and oriented toward peace-building through nurturing relationships between people, the Children of Abraham program emphasizes listening and learning and does not involve debate or any attempt at persuasion.
Peace and Justice
Loras is dedicated to Peace and Justice and are called to do our part to build a sustainable world where conflict can be reduced and resolution is more easily achieved. We can make a difference and give hope to those suffering injustice. Our Peace and Justice minor offers many opportunities for students to get involved and broaden their awareness of Peace and Justice by collaborating with a professor, joining a student sponsored organization, initiating an independent research project , studying abroad, pursuing a related internship, signing up for server work, and much more.
Qur’an Discussion
Loras invites the imam at the Tri-State Islamic Center to come to campus to lead a discussion of the Qur’an for anyone from campus or the Dubuque community who wishes to participate. The sessions involve hearing the text translated (also with written translations on hand) and then explained from the Muslim perspective, followed by questions and discussion. The purpose of the sessions is to expose participants to a different perspective that provides depth of understanding through repeated experience and sympathy through personal experience. Attendance is typically small, which allows for the development of strong and meaningful relationships.
Festival of Lights
Loras College hosts a Festival of Lights commemorating five cultural and religious expressions that celebrate light, near the Christmas season. Students, faculty, staff, and the Dubuque community have had the opportunity to learn the Mexican celebration, Our Lady of Guadalupe; the Jewish Hanukka ; the Eastern Orthodox Christian celebration of Feast of Theophany; the Deepawali, a five-day celebration in Nepal; and El Dia de las Velitas (The day of the candles) from Colombia.