Skip to main content

Religious Diversity

All Are Welcome

You Belong Here

One of the greatest things about Santa Clara University is its robust religious, spiritual, and worldview diversity. Religious and spiritual diversity is such an important value here at SCU not in spite of our Jesuit, Catholic tradition, but because of it. As we learn from one another and connect across our differences, we contribute to a richer and more meaningful community, and deepen in our own understanding and commitments. Here in Campus Ministry we strive to promote, engage, and celebrate our religious and spiritual diversity in all we do. No matter which religious or spiritual tradition you affiliate with, what process you may be in your spiritual journey, or if you are unaffiliated with religion and spirituality as a whole (or somewhere in between it all) we are so excited to grow with you, learn from you, and make sure you are cared for, celebrated, and nurtured during your time here. Here at SCU, you belong.


Upon being hired at SCU, Elizabeth Rand, Campus Minister for Religious and Spiritual Diversity, convened students from various faith and ethnicity-based groups and invited them to discern together how they could create a multi-faith and multicultural community at SCU. Together, Rand and the students have created a number of multicultural and multi-faith Mosaic events. 

Read More

Local Places of Worship

Baha’i of San Jose  |  945 Willow Street, San Jose, CA 95125

San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin  |  640 N. 5th Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Chung Tai Zen Ctr. of Sunnyvale  |  750 E. Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085

 

Bridgeway Church  |  2490 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301

City Light Bible Church  |  3000 Mission College Blvd, Hospitality Management Building, Santa Clara, CA 95054

First Immanuel Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)  |  374 S. 3rd Street, San Jose, CA

Garden City Church  |  1635 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126

Hillview Bible Chapel  |  1160 S Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014

Mark's Episcopal Church  |  1957 Pruneridge Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050

New Life Community Church  |  3500 Capitol Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538

Our Lady of Peace Parish  |  2800 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Peninsula Bible Church |  3505 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Quicksilver Church  |  5151 Carter Avenue, San Jose, CA 95118

Saint Clare Parish  |  725 Washington St, Santa Clara, CA 95050

San Jose Friends Meeting House- 1051 Morse Street, San Jose, CA 95126

San Jose Maranatha Seventh-Day Adventist Church  |  729 Morse Street, San Jose, CA 95126

Stone Church of Willow Glen- 1937 Lincoln Avenue, San Josen 95125

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral  |  81 N. 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Venture Christian Church  |  16845 Hicks Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindu Temple and Community Center  |  420 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089

Center for Spiritual Enlightenment  |  1146 University Avenue, San Jose CA 95126

First Unitarian Church  |  160 N. 3rd Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Am Echad (Orthodox)  |  1504 Meridian Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125

Beth David (Conservative)  |  19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga, CA 95070

Hillel of Silicon Valley  |  44 S 11th Street, San Jose, CA 95112

Shir Hadash (Reform)  |  20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos, CA 95032

Sinai (Conservative)  |  1532 Willowbrae Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125

Temple Emanu-El (Reform)  |  1010 University Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126

SBIA (South Bay Islamic Association)  |  2345 Harris Way, San Jose, CA 95131

WVMA (West Valley Muslim Association)  |  12370 Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga, CA 95070

MCA (Muslim Community Association)  |  3003 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95054

SABA Islamic Center (Shia Association of the Bay Area)  |  4415 Fortran Court, San Jose, CA 95134

Masjid Al-Noor  |  1755 Catherine St, Santa Clara, CA 95050

 

Gurdwara Sahib - San Jose  |  3636 Gurdwara Ave., San Jose, CA 95148

Gurdwara Sahib - Fremont  |  300 Gurdwara Ave, Fremont, CA 94536

 


Interfaith Opportunities

We invite you to join students, faculty and staff from a wide variety of interfaith offerings. All are welcome!
To learn more about these opportunities, contact Elizabeth Rand, Campus Minister for Multicultural Engagement.

Multifaith Dinner
Mosaic Dinners

Every month we celebrate a wide variety of faith and wisdom traditions as we enjoy good food, share our stories and traditions, and explore questions together. Everyone has a seat around the table as we support and care for one another. 

Saba Islamic Center San Jose
Sacred Space Visits

The Hindu Temple of Sunnyvale, Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale, the Muslim Community Association of Santa Clara, the Saba Islamic Center of San Jose, and the San Jose Gurdwara have welcomed SCU students, faculty, and staff and taught us about their faith and wisdom traditions.

Hands Stacked from Immersion trip
Bridge Building Conversations

Students gather in classrooms and small informal groups to practice bridge building practices of listening for understanding and storytelling, helping us connect with one another across our diverse identities and experiences and find common ground.

Religiously Affiliated Student Groups

Santa Clara University students represent a beautiful diversity of faith and wisdom traditions. Student-led religious organizations offer you an opportunity to grow and deepen in your particular tradition, or to learn about a tradition that is new to you, supported by a community of friends. Many of these student-led religious organizations can also connect you with local faith communities. We encourage you to try different groups to find the place that most resonates with your heart and soul. 

Color Bar Marina
Navigate here to Abide

Non Denominational Christian
Abide is a group of Christ believers that welcomes people of all religious backgrounds to have a time of fellowship, games, food, and bible study. We value community and hope you can join!

Fridays | 6:30 PM | Graham, Room 163

Contact President Marcus Reyes
Visit the Website
Instagram
Facebook

Color Bar Marina Light
Navigate here to College Catholics

Roman Catholic
Welcome home! Come join us at College Catholics: a student-led community to help students grow in the Catholic faith, integrate in radical fellowship, and experience joyful discipleship!

Mondays | 7:00 PM | Campus Ministry

Contact President Raquel Arevalo
Contact President Ian Novosel
Instagram

Color Bar Bronco Red
Navigate here to Jewish Student Union

Jewish
Calling all Jewish students and Jewish allies to participate in the Jewish Student Union! We provide a community where anyone can celebrate, learn about, and express Jewish culture and faith at SCU.

Contact President Caitlin Gronowski
Instagram

Color Bar Slate
Navigate here to Klesis Christian Fellowship

Non-denominational Christian
Klesis is a Greek word that means “divine invitation.” At Klesis, you’ll find a safe space to seek answers to life's big questions while building lasting friendships. Throughout the week we “do life” together - studying the Bible, hanging out, eating lots of good food, going on fun trips, and lots more.

Contact President Nathalie Maurer
Visit the Website
Instagram

Color Bar Marigold
Navigate here to Muslim Student Association

Muslim
The Muslim Student Association is dedicated to providing a safe space for students of Muslim backgrounds to meet friends and foster a supportive environment for personal and spiritual growth.

Contact Co-chair Sanaa Ahmed
Instagram

Color Bar Marina
Navigate here to New Life On Campus

Southern Baptist
New Life On Campus Christian Fellowship seeks to form an inviting Christ-centered community through intentional relationships. Whether you're just exploring Christianity or seeking to grow deeper in your faith, we'd love to get to know you!

Thursdays  |  7:00 PM  |  Graham 163

Contact President Jonathan Fong
Visit the Website
Instagram
Facebook

Color Bar Marina Light
Navigate here to Sikh Student Association

Sikh
Our mission is to create an experience at SCU where all students can experience Sikh values through, Sangat (Community), Vichar (Reflection) and Seva (selfless service).

Contact President Sehej Kaur
Visit the Website

SCU Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that SCU sits on the land of the Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone people, who trace their ancestry through the Missions Dolores, Santa Clara, and San Jose. Daily, we must acknowledge and remember their connection to this region and give thanks to them for allowing us to live, work, learn, and pray on their traditional homeland, not only here but across the United States by all Native American people. Please take a moment of silence to pay respect to their Elders and to all Ohlone people of the past and present.

One Column