Nearly 30 percent of college students have experienced the loss of a family member or close friend over the past year, according to statistics from Actively Moving Forward, an organization that supports young adults who are grieving. In addition, millions of adults at various stages of life experience loss and grief in response to experiences such as death, illness or injury, career hardship, and an assortment of tragic and life-altering events.
In order to provide grieving students, faculty and staff with a community of support, Hendricks Chapel is sponsoring “A Dinner Conversation on Spirituality, Loss and Grief,” on Tuesday, March 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Noble Room, lower level of Hendricks Chapel.
“When faced with loss and grief our healing is often nurtured through intentional action, and receiving the spiritual support of others is a way to gradually live into a new normal,” says the Rev. Brian Konkol, Dean of Hendricks Chapel. “As a learning community it is especially important to recognize the ways in which grief has an impact on campus life, as those of us experiencing sorrow are more likely to struggle with academic performance, physical illness, loneliness and emotional anguish. My hope is that gathering for an evening of open discussion will provide all participants will an opportunity to express their pain and move forward in their journey toward restoration.”
Following a free dinner, chaplains and guests from a diversity of religious, spiritual, moral and ethical perspectives will provide participants with a casual and inclusive opportunity to share their stories, listen to others and build community for the sake of peace and healing.
American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided upon request. For more information and to request accommodations, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu.
