In a year where stories of violence against places of worship have unsettled many, the U of M’s campus faith communities continue to offer comfort and connection.

Earlier this year, a local priest at Holy Ghost Parish was attacked during a service by a man with a knife. Though no one was injured, the attacker was later found not criminally responsible. Not long after, All Saints Church downtown was vandalized and robbed of $18,000 worth of sacred items. South of the border, news spread of a church-shooting in Minnesota that claimed the lives of two children.

For people of faith, these headlines can feel heavy.

Edgar French, U of M’s coordinator of the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre, offered the space to spiritual students. “The Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre has and continues to aspire to be a space where students, individually and communally, can voice their views, feelings, hopes and fears concerning their spiritual journey and lives.”

French explained that the centre’s role is not only to connect students with their own traditions, but also to create an environment where they can engage across differences.

That sense of welcome is further confirmed by Father Mark Filips, a Catholic chaplain at St. Paul’s College. Filips said that while students are aware of recent incidents in Winnipeg and beyond, they continue to treat the chapel as “that oasis on campus.”

“We had so many students coming that they were overflowing the small chapel,” said Filips, describing weekday services that recently had to move into the larger sanctuary. “Throughout the day, we keep the chapel open and we do have students continually coming in and looking for […] that quiet.” He added, “It’s a peaceful place.”

Filips acknowledged that the knife attack in Winnipeg sparked conversations among students.

“We tend to think of Winnipeg as this untouchable place […] but obviously it does [happen], right?” said Filips.

Filips emphasized that students have not expressed feeling unsafe and that the chapel focuses on respect and openness.

Ashish Charaya, a second-year student and president of marketing for the Hindu Students’ Council (HSC), says recent headlines are unsettling.

“These spaces are often supposed to be the safe heavens where people can gather in peace and have some sort of connection with God,” said Charaya. He added that these acts of violence in places of worship are “unsettling to even hear about.”

At the same time, Charaya said that the HSC works to ensure safety and inclusivity at its events. The group hires security and maintains close contact with police during large gatherings. But beyond physical protection, the HSC tries to make every student feel welcome.

“Even if a person is not Hindu and still wants to come explore our event, we actually look forward to that,” said Charaya.

French says the role of the chaplain on campus is to nurture these “sacred things” students carry — their hopes, fears, doubts and dreams — in a space of trust and safety.

Those leading faith communities at the university insist their spaces remain sources of openness and safety. Whether at Christ the King Chapel or a student faith group, finding peace is possible, even in difficult times.