Today, more than ever, providing an environment that supports members of the university’s robust multi-faith community is critical. One way to do this is by building a culture of respect, understanding, and civility around religious holidays throughout the year. Faculty and staff are asked to make appropriate accommodations to allow community members to fully live out their faith. If a student needs to turn in an assignment late or even reschedule an exam that falls during a non-work religious holiday, please allow flexibility. Managers are asked to make reasonable accommodations for staff to take a personal or vacation day (or even an hour or two) for religious observance.
Below you will find information about various religious communities and some of their key religious holidays. Please be prepared to make accommodations so that those within these communities may fully engage in their traditions and practices. When planning a syllabus or choosing a date for an event or important meeting, consider reviewing whether the dates you select may affect observant religious populations that may have restrictions around certain holidays. To help you plan, please refer to our AY26-28 Interfaith Religious Holidays Calendar with suggested accommodations.
Thank you for your respect and thoughtful consideration in supporting our religious communities throughout the year.
Jewish High Holidays and Jewish Life at DePaul
DePaul’s Jewish Life Chaplain Kayla Schneider-Smith has been with DePaul for a year and during this time she and DePaul’s pluralistic Jewish student group Kehilla have developed many celebrations around Jewish holidays throughout the year. In addition, Kayla has been working closely with the Jewish Faculty/Staff Alliance (JFSA) and with the Jewish student population, providing pastoral care, education, advocacy, and establishing community for the larger Jewish community at DePaul.
Kayla extends a warm welcome to the High Holidays celebrations this year.
- Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, will be celebrated at DePaul in collaboration with Hillel students and Rabbi Nicole Berman in DePaul’s Lincoln Park Student Center 120 AB on Tuesday, September 23rd, beginning at 10am. Following the service, DePaul’s Jewish Life Center will host a Rosh Hashanah Holiday Lunch.
- DePaul Jewish Life Kehilla will usher in the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, with a meditative sound bath session on Wednesday, October 1st at 10:30am, and students are then welcome to join DePaul Hillel and/or Chabad Lincoln Park to commemorate the day. If you are looking for places off-campus to attend High Holiday services, please do not hesitate to contact Chaplain Kayla at kschne26@depaul.edu.
Please note that Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 22 and extends through sundown on Wednesday, September 24. Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 1 and extends through sundown on Thursday, October 2. Observant community members commemorate both days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
All members of the DePaul community, as well as family, friends, alumni, and Lincoln Park neighbors are invited to join DePaul’s Jewish community in celebrating these special Jewish holidays. As is the custom, our Rosh Hashanah service is provided free of charge to DePaul students, faculty, staff, and alumni. For others, donations are accepted at the events. For more information on High Holidays or for general questions regarding Jewish Life and the Jewish community at DePaul, please contact Chaplain Kayla: kschne26@depaul.edu.
Other Jewish Holidays to consider include Sukkot (evening of October 6 to evening of October 13), Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah 2025 (evening of October 13 to evening of October 14), Passover (evening of April 1 until evening of April 9), and Shavuot (evening of May 21 until evening of May 23). Hanukkah is the evening of December 14 until the evening of December 22. There are no work restrictions around Hanukkah , but please consider being inclusive when planning any holiday parties and not just focus on Christmas holiday themes.
Hindu Diwali and Holi
Two of the most celebrated Hindu festivals are Diwali and Holi. This year Diwali or the Festival of Lights begins on October 18. This five-day festival is celebrated differently by members of the Hindu community depending on the regions and traditions of homeland communities. Holi is known as the celebration of color and marks a welcome to spring. It will be celebrated this year on March 4. Students, faculty, and staff who celebrate Diwali and other Hindu festivals are encouraged to work closely with professors and managers early in each quarter so that appropriate accommodations can be offered for those practicing their particular Hindu traditions.
For more information on these holidays, please contact Rev. Diane Dardón, Office of Religious Diversity and Pastoral Care.
Muslim Celebrations and Muslim Life at DePaul
The major holiday on the Muslim calendar, Eid ul Adha, was celebrated in June of this year. Eid ul Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) commemorates the sacrifices made by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) for the sake of God. It comes at the end of the Hajj season, when millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca for the pilgrimage journey of their lifetimes. Ashura, which is especially important for Shi’a Muslims, for whom it represents the eternal importance of standing up and sacrificing for justice in the face of oppression, was observed in July. As Muslim holidays are determined by an unadjusted lunar calendar they occur on different dates on the solar calendar each year. Later in the 2025-26 academic year the Muslim community celebrates its most important season with Ramadan (estimated Feb. 17-March 19), which ends with Eid al-Fitr. The celebration for Eid al-Adha in 2026 is expected to be May 27.
Catholic Campus Ministry
Religious and spiritual support and ministry programs for DePaul’s Catholic community is offered through Mission and Ministry’s Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) office, located in the Lincoln Park Student Center, Suite 104, across from the St. Louise de Marillac Chapel. Students are invited and encouraged to participate in the CCM community in a number of ways. They can participate in Sunday Night Mass, sign up for weekend retreats, join peer-led small groups, enjoy free food and discussion at the weekly Wednesday community nights from 5-6 pm or Cafecito con Tepeyac, a gathering focused on the needs of the Latinx community. You can also attend weekday noon masses for all members of the DePaul community or stop in for a quiet moment in the chapels at both Lincoln Park or Loop campuses. Catholic Campus Ministry is also proud to collaborate with DePaul’s Catholic Studies department in supporting the Catholic Learning Community, as well as other lectures, programs and events throughout the year. Note that DePaul is not in session during Christmas in December when many Christians celebrate, on Easter (which falls on a Sunday), and the institution is closed on Good Friday.
Protestant and Orthodox Christian Ministries
The Division of Mission and Ministry has two Christian chaplains, Rev. Dr. Diane Dardon and Minister Jene Ashley Colvin, who serve DePaul students, faculty, and staff. These chaplains provide leadership formation and spiritual care to students and focus on pastoral support and care for faculty and staff. In addition, the chaplains work with student groups and student religious organizations to provide ecumenical and interfaith programs that encourage dialogue, community building, and worship, prayer, and ritual.