Student standing infront of stained glass window

Campus Ministry

Building a Community of Faith, Service, and Friendship

At St. John's, your journey is as spiritual as it is intellectual.  Our passion for creative teaching and learning guides you as you take your place in this world and become the person you are truly called to be.  Campus Ministry supports many Catholic and interfaith initiatives that help promote spiritual engagement and worship, encourage reflection and dedicated service, offer social justice and leadership opportunities, and foster a supportive and inclusive community among students, faculty, administrators, staff, and the Vincentian family.

We provide spiritual experiences that expand horizons, invite exploration, and challenge assumptions for all people of all faiths.  For those who are Catholic, we help foster involvement in experiences designed to fulfill the Gospel call to justice, as well as invite participation in celebrations of the Eucharist and other sacraments.

Contact Us

Queens Campus
718-990-6255

Staten Island Campus
718-390-4475
[email protected]

Our Staff

Main Office:
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-6255
718-990-5305 (Fax)

St. Thomas More Church Office
718-990-1849
718-990-2140 (Fax)

Tori Santangelo
Associate Vice President for University Ministry
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-1363
[email protected]

Lilliana Bruschi
Senior Secretary
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-6852
[email protected]

Rachel Burgos
Residence Campus Minister for Vincentian Outreach, Wellness and Leadership
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-5057
[email protected]

Tom Donoghue
Church Secretary
St. Thomas More Church
718-990-1849
[email protected]

Sister Pat Evanick, D.C.
Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Leadership
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-6115
[email protected]

Michael Fontana
Campus Minister for Music Ministry and Faith Formation
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-2688
[email protected] 

Dennis Gallagher, OFS
Director of Liturgy and Faith Formation
St. Thomas More Church 
718-990-2125
[email protected]

Elvira Garcia
Residence Minister for Leadership, Social Justice and Community Development
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-6327
[email protected]

Rev. Hugo Medellin, C.M.
University Chaplain
St. Thomas More Church 
718 674-0515
[email protected]

Victoria O'Keefe
Residence Director for Catholic Scholars Program, Social Justice & Retreats
Sullivan Hall, 1st Floor
718-990-8075
[email protected]

Andrea Pinnavaia
Campus Minister for Liturgy and Faith Formation
St. Thomas More Church
718-990-3346
[email protected]

Rev. Richard Rock, C.M.
Campus Minister for Athletics
Carnesecca Arena, Room 136C
718-990-2534
[email protected]

Br. Mike Sheerin, F.M.S.
Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Leadership
St. Thomas More Church
718-990-7604
[email protected]

Main Office
718-390-4475
[email protected]

Rev. Tri Duong, C.M.
Director of Campus Ministry
Notre Dame House
718-390-4305
[email protected]

Theresa Volastro
Music Minister
Lavelle Hall, Room 106
718-390-4469
[email protected]

Graduate Assistants
Notre Dame House
718-390-4292

Celebrations and Traditions

At the heart of virtually every faith is a series of holy days, celebrations, and observances that are woven tightly into each group’s overall cultural identity. Each of these days present an outstanding opportunity for intercultural exchange and meaningful dialogue. We not only encourage each member of the St. John’s community to be inspired by their own faith, but to also discover, acknowledge, and support other people’s beliefs.

Advent
A period of spiritual preparation when Christians make themselves ready for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas.

All Saints' Day
As a holy day of obligation, Roman Catholics honor all of the saints, both known and unknown.

All Souls' Day
A day Roman Catholics pay respect and remember the souls of friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven.

Ascension of Baha'u'llah
This commemorates the day when the founder and prophet of the Baha'i Faith died in 1892.

Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent occurring 46 days before Easter. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. Lent is a Christian festival of preparation for Easter observed through reflection on the life and death of Jesus Christ. Resources for Lent and Easter

St. Benedict the Black
Also known as Benedict the Moor, he was born a slave near Messina, Italy. He was freed by his master and became a solitary, eventually settling with other hermits at Monte Pellegrino. He was made superior of the community, but when he was about 38, Pope Pius IV disbanded communities of solitaries and he became a Franciscan lay brother and the cook at St. Mary's Convent near Palermo. He was appointed, against his will, superior of the convent when it opted for the reform, though he could neither read nor write. After serving as superior, he became novice master but was asked to be relieved of this post and return to his former position of cook. His holiness, reputation for miracles, and his fame as a confessor brought hordes of visitors to see the obscure and humble cook. He died at the convent, was canonized in 1807, and is the patron of Blacks in the United States. The surname "the Moor" is a misnomer originating from the Italian il moro (the black). His feast day is April 4.

Birth of Baha'u'llah (1817–92)
Commemorates the birth of the co-founder of the Bahá'í Faith

Bandi Chhor Divas
A day on which the Sikhs celebrate the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib and 52 Kings from Gwalior Prison

Birth of the Bab (1819–50)
Commemorates the birth of the co-founder of the Bahá'í Faith

Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (1666–1708)
The 10th and last living prophet of the Sikhs, he passed the guruship onto the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Sikh community, Guru Panth.

Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib (1469–1539)
Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Sikh faith

Bodhi Day
Buddhist celebration of the Enlightenment of Buddha, c. 596 B.C.E.

Christmas
Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Resources for Christmas

Christmas (Orthodox)
Christian faiths based on the Julian calendar, such as Eastern Orthodox, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Consecrating the Guru Granth Sahib
The remembrance of Guru Granth Sahib as the final and perpetual Guru of Sikhs as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708. As Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib is regarded as the guiding light for the Sikh.

Declaration of the Bab
This marks the inception of the Baha'i Faith in 1844. The Bab declared that he was a messenger of God and was sent to prepare the way for the one of all religions who would come to establish universal peace.

Diwali
A five-day festival of lights representing the start of the Hindu New Year. Diwali celebrates the victory of the Good over the Evil and Light over Darkness.

Easter
The central Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Resources for Easter

Eastern/Pascha
Christian faiths based on the Julian calendar such as Eastern Orthodox honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Eid al-Adha
An Islamic festival of sacrifice that commemorates the faith of Abraham; also a memorial to the dead. One of two major festivals; the other being id al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr
Islamic festival of the breaking of the fast, Ramadan. One of two major festivals; the other being id al-Adha.

Feast of the Annunciation
A Catholic celebration of the announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.

Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
The 40th day after Easter Sunday. As a holy day of obligation, Catholics commemorate the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and celebrate on the following Sunday.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary
A Catholic celebration of Mary's life, death, and assumption of her body into heaven.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
As a holy day of obligation, Catholics celebrate that Mary was conceived without original sin so that she could one day conceive Jesus.

Feast of Mary, Mother of God
As a holy day of obligation, Catholics celebrate Mary's motherhood of Jesus.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A Catholic celebration of a man, Juan Diego, who had a vision of Mary who told him to build a church on the spot where they were standing. This vision took place on a hill near Mexico City in 1531.

Good Friday
Celebrated on the Friday before Easter, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.

Good Friday (Orthodox)
Christian faiths based on the Julian calendar such as Eastern Orthodox remember the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.

Hanukkah
An eight-day Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians.

Krishna Janmashtami
Hindu celebration of the birth of Krishna

Lent
Starting on Ash Wednesday, this 40-weekday period is a Christian festival of preparation for Easter observed through reflection on the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Maha Shivaratri
Hindu celebration of the birth of Lord Shiva

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib
The fifth Guru and first martyr of the Sikhs. He compiled the religious text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib
The ninth Guru of the Sikhs, who was killed by Mughal rulers in 1675 for defending Hindus facing forcible conversion to Islam.

Martyrdom of the Bab
This commemorates the day when one of the main figures in founding the Baha'i Faith was executed by a firing squad in Iran in 1850.

Mawlid-al-Nabi
The observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is celebrated with carnivals, large street processions, and the decorating of homes and mosques.

Navaratri
Hindu celebration of gifts from the goddess Ambadevi.

Naw-Ruz
Bahá'í New Year

Norouz
Persian New Year

Palm Sunday
Begins Christian Holy Week, the last week of Lent, and the final week before Easter. It refers to the palms that people spread on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate the feast day of Passover.

Paryushan
Holiest day for Jains. An eight-day festival signifying human emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement.

Passover
Eight-day celebration marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt; Seder ceremonies emphasize the concept of freedom. The first two days and the last two days are observed as holy days.

Purim
Purim is a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people living throughout the ancient Persian Empire from persecution by Haman the Agagite.

Ramadan
A holy Islamic festival honoring the first revelations to the Prophet Mohammed through 30 days of reflection and fasting from sun-up to sun-down.

Ramakrishna Jayanti
Commemorates the birth of Sri Ramakrishna, a Hindu mystic whose movement redefined modern Hinduism.

Ramanavami
A festival celebrating the birth of the most supreme God in Hinduism, Lord Rama.

Ridvan
Commemorates the declaration of Baháúllah to his followers in 1863. The first, ninth, and 12th days of Ridvan are major Baha'i holy days.

Rosh Hashanah
Jewish New Year, a high holy day, beginning 10 days of penitence and concluding on Yom Kippur

Shavuot
Jewish celebration of the spring harvest season and the gift of the Torah

Shemini Àtzeret
Eighth and last day of the Jewish festival Sukkot

Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti
A celebration of the anniversary of the birth (Jayanthi), in 1836, of Ramakrishna, a Hindu mystic and yogi who was known for his message of the harmony of religions

Simchat Torah
Joyous festival in which the reading cycle of the Torah is completed and its first book begun again

St. Josephine Margaret Bakhita
Sister Josephine was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering. Historians believe that sometime in February 1877, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. Although she was just a child, she was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles to a slave market in El Obeid. She was bought and sold at least twice during the grueling journey. For the next 12 years she would be bought, sold, and given away over a dozen times. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name.

She was baptized on January 9, 1890, and took the name Josephine Margaret and Fortunata. (Fortunata is the Latin translation for her Arabic name, Bakhita). She also received the sacraments of her first Holy Communion and confirmation on the same day. These three sacraments are the sacraments of initiation into the Church and were always given together in the early Church. The Archbishop who gave her the sacraments was none other than Giusseppe Sarto, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, who would later become Pope Pius X.

In 1958, the process of canonization began for Josephine under Pope John XXIII. On December 1, 1978, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable. Sadly, the news of her beatification in 1992 was censored in Sudan. But just nine months later, Pope John Paul II visited Sudan and honored her publicly. He canonized her on October 1, 2000.

St. Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and her feast day is celebrated on February 8.

St. Peter Claver
St. Peter Claver was born at Verdu, Catalonia, Spain, in 1580, of impoverished parents descended from ancient and distinguished families. He studied at the Jesuit college of Barcelona, entered the Jesuit novitiate at Tarragona in 1602, and took his final vows on August 8, 1604. While studying philosophy at Majorca, the young religious was influenced by St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to go to the Indies and save "millions of perishing souls."

In 1610, he landed at Cartagena (modern Colombia), the principle slave market of the New World, where a thousand slaves were landed every month. After his ordination in 1616, he dedicated himself by special vow to the service of the Negro slaves—a work that was to last for 33 years. He labored unceasingly for the salvation of the African slaves and the abolition of the Negro slave trade, and the love he lavished on them was something that transcended the natural order.

Boarding the slave ships as they entered the harbor, he would hurry to the revolting inferno of the hold, and offer whatever poor refreshments he could afford; he would care for the sick and dying, and instruct the slaves through Negro catechists before administering the Sacraments. Through his efforts, 300,000 souls entered the Church. Furthermore, he did not lose sight of his converts when they left the ships, but followed them to the plantations to which they were sent, encouraged them to live as Christians, and prevailed on their masters to treat them humanely. He died in 1654.

St. Katharine Drexel
St. Katharine Drexel is the second American-born saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church. This amazing woman was an heiress to a large bequest who became a religious sister and a brilliant educator. Katharine was born in Philadelphia, PA, on November 26, 1858, the second child of a prominent and wealthy banker, Francis Anthony Drexel, and his wife, Hannah Langstroth. Her mother passed away just five weeks after Katharine was born. Her father remarried to Emma Bouvier in 1860 and together they had another daughter in 1863, Louisa Drexel. The girls received a wonderful education from private tutors and traveled throughout the United States and Europe.

The Drexels were financially and spiritually well endowed. They were devout in the practice of their faith, setting an excellent example of true Christian living for their three daughters. They not only prayed, but practiced, what the Church calls the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Katharine grew up seeing her father pray for 30 minutes each evening. Every week, her stepmother opened their doors to house and care for the poor. The couple distributed food and clothing and provided rent assistance to those in need. The Drexels would seek out and visit women who were too afraid or proud to approach the home in order to care for their needs in Christian charity.

St. Francis of Assisi
Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181.

In 1182, Pietro Bernardone returned from a trip to France to find out his wife had given birth to a son. Far from being excited or apologetic because he had been gone, Pietro was furious because she had his new son baptized Giovanni after John the Baptist.

The last thing Pietro wanted in his son was a man of God—he wanted a man of business, a cloth merchant like he was, and he especially wanted a son who would reflect his infatuation with France. So he renamed his son Francesco—which is the equivalent of calling him Frenchman.

Francis enjoyed a very rich, easy life growing up because of his father's wealth and the permissiveness of the times. From the beginning, everyone loved Francis. He was constantly happy, charming, and a born leader. If he was picky, people excused him. If he was ill, people took care of him. If he was so much of a dreamer he did poorly in school, no one minded. In many ways, he was too easy to like for his own good. No one tried to control or teach him.

St. Patrick
St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was approximately 14 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.

At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans, but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. In The Confession, he wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was 20, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and he was reunited with his family.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha
St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656 in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her mother was an Algonquin who was captured by the Mohawks and who took a Mohawk chief for her husband.

She contracted smallpox as a four-year-old child, which scarred her skin. The scars were a source of humiliation in her youth. She was commonly seen wearing a blanket to hide her face. Worse, her entire family died during the outbreak. Kateri was subsequently raised by her uncle, who was the chief of a Mohawk clan. She was known as a skilled worker who was diligent and patient.

However, she refused to marry. When her adoptive parents proposed a suitor to her, she refused to entertain the proposal. They punished her by giving her more work, but she did not acquiesce. Instead, she remained quiet and diligent. Eventually, they were forced to relent and accept that she had no interest in marriage.

At age 19, Kateri converted to Catholicism, taking a vow of chastity and pledging to marry only Jesus Christ. Her decision was very unpopular with her adoptive parents and their neighbors. Some of her neighbors started rumors of sorcery. To avoid persecution, she traveled to a Christian native community south of Montreal.

St. Martin de Porres Velázquez, O.P.
(December 9, 1579–November 3, 1639) St. Martin de Porres Velázquez, O.P. was a lay brother of the Dominican Order who was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. He is the patron saint of mixed-race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, and all those seeking racial harmony.

He was noted for work on behalf of the poor, establishing an orphanage and a children's hospital. He maintained an austere lifestyle, which included fasting and abstaining from meat. Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of levitationbilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures, and an ability to communicate with animals.

Sukkot
Jewish festival of booths (or tabernacles) and the fall harvest; takes name from the booths used by Israelites during desert wanderings

Vaisakhi
Sikh New Year and spring harvest festival

Vesak
The most important of the Buddhist festivals celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha

Yom Kippur
Jewish Day of Atonement; most solemn Jewish holy day devoted to prayer and repentance. It is marked by 25 hours of fasting, which starts an hour before Yom Kippur begins and ends after nightfall on the actual day. 

No matter which faith you follow, at St. John’s University we support you in your celebrations and traditions.

Below are the primary sacred dates for major world religions. Please use this calendar to better understand, acknowledge, and respect these different holidays. 


2023

DateHolidayReligionType
January   
1Feast of Mary Mother of GodChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
4Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann SetonCatholicMeaningful
5

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib

Sikh

Special Worship
7

Christmas - Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox/Christian 

Special Worship
8

Epiphany 

 Christian/Catholic

Meaningful
10Bodhi DayBuddhistSpecial Worship
February   
7Feast of Rosalie RenduVincentian/Catholic Meaningful
8Feast of St. Josephine BakhitaCatholicMeaningful
18Maha ShivaratriHinduWork-restricted
21Shri Ramakrishna JayantiHinduWork-restricted
22Ash WednesdayChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
March   
3Feast of St. Katherine DrexelCatholicMeaningful
6-7PurimJewishSpecial Worship
15Feast of St. Louise de MarillacVincentian/CatholicMeaningful
17Feast of St. Patrick CatholicMeaningful
21Feast of St. Benedict the Black C/CatholicMeaningful
21-22Naw-RúzBaháʼíWork-restricted
21-22NowruzPersianWork-restricted
22Ramadan beginsIslamWork-restricted (Wednesday Afternoon)
25Feast of the AnnunciationChristian/CatholicMeaningful
30Rama NavamiHinduWork-restricted
April   
2Palm SundayEastern Orthodox/ChristianMeaningful
5Passover beginsJewishWork-restricted (1st, 2nd, and last 2 days)
6Holy Thursday Eastern Orthodox/ChristianSpecial Worship
7Good FridayEastern Orthodox/ChristianSpecial Worship
8VesakBuddhistWork-restricted
9EasterEastern Orthodox/ChristianSpecial Worship
13Passover endsJewishWork-restricted (1st, 2nd, and last 2 days)
14VaisakhiSikhSpecial Worship
21Ridván beginsBaháʼíWork-restricted
21Ramadan endsIslamWork-restricted (Friday Afternoon)
21-22Eid al-FitrIslamWork-restricted
May   
    
2Ridván endsBaháʼíWork-restricted
18Feast of the AscensionChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
23-24Declaration of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
25-27ShavuotJewishWork-restricted
28Pentecost Christian/CatholicMeaningful
29-30Ascension of Bahá'u'lláhBaháʼíWork-restricted
June   
4Trinity SundayChristian/CatholicMeaningful
8Corpus Christi SundayChristian/CatholicMeaningful
16Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of JesusChristian/CatholicMeaningful
16Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev SahibSikhWork-restricted
24Nativity of St. John the BaptistChristian/CatholicMeaningful
28-29Eid-ul-AdhaIslamWork-restricted
29Feast of Saints Peter and PaulChristian/CatholicMeaningful
July   
9Martyrdom of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
14Feast of St. Kateri TekakwithaCatholicMeaningful 
26-27Tisha B'AvJewish25 hours fasting, Work-restricted optional
27-28AshuraIslamWork-restricted
31Feast of St. Ignatius LoyolaChristian/CatholicMeaningful
August   
15Feast of the Assumption of MaryChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
September   
6-7Krishna JanmashtamiHinduWork-restricted
9Feast of St. Vincent de Paul Vincentian/CatholicMeaningful
11ParyushanJainSpecial Worship
15-17Rosh HashanahJewishWork-restricted
24-25Yom KippurJewishWork-restricted
26-27Mawlid-al-NabiIslamWork-restricted
29-Oct. 6SukkotJewishWork-restricted
October   
6Shemini Atzeret BeginsJewishWork-restricted
7-8Simchat TorahJewishWork-restricted
8Shemini Atzeret EndsJewishWork-restricted
26-27Birth of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
27-28Birth of BaháúllahBaháʼíWork-restricted
November   
1All Saints DayChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
2All Souls DayCatholicSpecial Worship
11Feast of St. Martin de TorresCatholicMeaningful
12DiwaliHindu, JainSpecial Worship
16Remembering the Martyrs of the UCASecularMeaningful
23ThanksgivingFederalMeaningful
24Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur SahibSikhWork-restricted
26Feast of Christ the KingChristian/CatholicMeaningful
27Feast of Miraculous Medal C/CatholicSpecial Worship/Holy Day
27Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev SahibSikhWork-restricted
28Feast of Catherine LaBoureVincentian/CatholicMeaningful
28Ascension of ’Abdu’l-BaháBaháʼíSpecial Worship
December   
3Advent SeasonChristianMeaningful
3Feast of St. Francis XavierChristian/CatholicMeaningful
7Hanukkah BeginsJewishSpecial Worship
8Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
12Feast of Our Lady of GuadalupeChristian/CatholicMeaningful
15Hanukkah EndsJewishSpecial Worship
25ChristmasChristianSpecial Worship
26-Jan. 1KwanzaaEthnicMeaningful

2024

DateHolidayReligionType
January   
1Feast of Mary Mother of GodChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
4Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann SetonVincentian/CatholicMeaningful
6

Epiphany 

Christian/Catholic

Meaningful
7

Christmas - Eastern Orthodox

Eastern Orthodox/Christian

Special Worship
17

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib

 Sikh

Special Worship
18Bodhi DayBuddhistSpecial Worship
February   
7Feast of Rosalie RenduVincentian/Catholic Meaningful
8Feast of St. Josephine BakhitaCatholicMeaningful
14Ash WednesdayChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
March   
3Feast of St. Katherine DrexelCatholicMeaningful
8Maha ShivaratriHinduWork-restricted
10Ramadan beginsIslamWork-restricted (Wednesday Afternoon)
15Feast of St. Louise de MarillacVincentian/CatholicMeaningful
15Shri Ramakrishna JayantiHinduWork-restricted
17Feast of St. Patrick CatholicMeaningful
19-20Naw-RúzBaháʼíWork-restricted
20-21NowruzPersianWork-restricted
21Feast of St. Benedict the Black C/CatholicMeaningful
23-24PurimJewishSpecial Worship
24Palm SundayEastern Orthodox/ChristianMeaningful
25Feast of the AnnunciationChristian/CatholicMeaningful
28Holy Thursday ChristianSpecial Worship
29Good FridayChristianSpecial Worship
31EasterChristianSpecial Worship
April   
9Ramadan endsIslamWork-restricted (Friday Afternoon)
9-10Eid al-FitrIslamWork-restricted
13VaisakhiSikhSpecial Worship
17Rama NavamiHinduWork-restricted
21Ridván beginsBaháʼíWork-restricted
22Passover beginsJewishWork-restricted (1st, 2nd, and last 2 days)
23VesakBuddhistWork-restricted
30Passover endsJewishWork-restricted (1st, 2nd, and last 2 days)
May   
2Ridván endsBaháʼíWork-restricted
3Good FridayEastern OrthodoxSpecial Worship
5EasterEastern OrthodoxSpecial Worship
9Feast of the AscensionChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
19Pentecost Christian/CatholicMeaningful
22Declaration of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
26Trinity SundayChristian/CatholicMeaningful
29Ascension of Bahá'u'lláhBaháʼíWork-restricted
30Corpus Christi SundayChristian/CatholicMeaningful
June   
7Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of JesusChristian/CatholicMeaningful
11-13ShavuotJewishWork-restricted
16Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev SahibSikhWork-restricted
16-17Eid-ul-AdhaIslamWork-restricted
24Nativity of St. John the BaptistChristian/CatholicMeaningful
29Feast of Saints Peter and PaulChristian/CatholicMeaningful
July   
9Martyrdom of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
14Feast of St. Kateri TekakwithaCatholicMeaningful
16-17AshuraIslamWork-restricted
31Feast of St. Ignatius LoyolaChristian/CatholicMeaningful
August   
12-13Tisha B'AvJewish25 hours fasting, Work-restricted optional
15Feast of the Assumption of MaryChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
26Krishna JanmashtamiHinduWork-restricted
September   
15-16Mawlid-al-NabiIslamWork-restricted
21ParyushanJainSpecial Worship
27Feast of St. Vincent de Paul Vincentian/CatholicMeaningful
October   
2-4Rosh HashanahJewishWork-restricted
11-12Yom KippurJewishWork-restricted
16-23SukkotJewishWork-restricted
20Birth of the BabBaháʼíWork-restricted
23-25Shemini AtzeretJewishWork-restricted
24Birth of BaháúllahBaháʼíWork-restricted
24-25Simchat TorahJewishWork-restricted
November   
1All Saints DayChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
1DiwaliHindu, JainSpecial Worship
2All Souls DayCatholicSpecial Worship
11Feast of St. Martin de TorresCatholicMeaningful
15Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev SahibSikhWork-restricted
16Remembering the Martyrs of the UCASecularMeaningful
24Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur SahibSikhWork-restricted
24Feast of Christ the KingChristian/CatholicMeaningful
26-27Ascension of ’Abdu’l-BaháBaháʼíSpecial Worship
27Feast of Miraculous Medal C/CatholicSpecial Worship/Holy Day
28Feast of Catherine LaBoureVincentian/CatholicMeaningful
28ThanksgivingFederalMeaningful
December   
1Advent SeasonChristianMeaningful
3Feast of St. Francis XavierChristian/CatholicMeaningful
8Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionChristian/CatholicSpecial Worship
12Feast of Our Lady of GuadalupeChristian/CatholicMeaningful
25ChristmasChristianSpecial Worship
25Hanukkah BeginsJewishSpecial Worship
26-Jan. 1KwanzaaEthnicMeaningfu

Meaningful

Such days are NOT work-restricted by definition but may be particularly significant to persons attending or working at a Vincentian Catholic university.

Special Worship

Such religious observances listed above are NOT work-restricted by definition but may involve a special worship or observance.

Work-Restricted Religious Holy Days

*Hindu, Jain, and Sikh holy days are calculated on a lunar calendar and are observed at different times in different regions.

*All Jewish and Bahá'í holy days begin at sunset on the previous day.

*Observances/practices vary from culture to culture within and across denominations.

A recognized denominational sacred or holy day that is observed by persons or groups who are required—through a set or system of religious beliefs, laws/doctrines, tenets, canons, or theology—to restrict or limit work and/or physical or mental activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something; toil; labor. This definition may include academic endeavors (e.g., examinations, classroom activities and research, or out-of-classroom learning experiences).

Sunday is widely observed as a Sabbath and day of worship for many faith traditions. In the Jewish faith, Saturday (beginning at sunset on Friday) is a work-restricted Sabbath. Regulations governing observance for worship depend on regional customs.

There are no work-restricted holy days within the Christian faith by tenet. By custom, in the United States, Easter and Christmas (a federal holiday) are considered to be non-work days.