Title:Strengthening the places that support worship and reflection

Gathering—in places that facilitate prayer, reflection, fellowship, and formation—has been central to the Georgetown experience for generations of students, alumni, parents, and staff. Today, Georgetown’s campuses feature an array of sacred spaces that embody the university’s commitment to be a Catholic and Jesuit home for people of all faith backgrounds.

During the Called to Be campaign, donor support has made it possible for Georgetown to create, restore, and strengthen its spiritual homes through numerous projects, ranging from a first-of-its-kind meditation center for members of Dharmic spiritual traditions to renovations of historic Hilltop Campus chapels. The warm, inviting spaces have attracted a growing number of students eager to participate in worship services and connect. Every investment in campus spaces like these helps Georgetown fulfill its calling to nurture a thriving community enriched by interreligious engagement.

A pioneering place for Dharmic life

In 2021, Georgetown celebrated the opening of its Dharmālaya, a meditation center for members of Dharmic spiritual traditions—the first of its kind on a U.S. college campus. Located in the Leavey Center, the Dharmālaya was made possible by philanthropy and the collaborative efforts of interfaith student groups, alumni, and Campus Ministry.

The center offers space for members of Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Hindu, and other Dharmic traditions to gather in small groups, practice religious and spiritual traditions, and meditate. Featuring teak shrines from Myanmar and marble icons from India, the Dharmālaya has been a place of belonging and solace for students.

“I’m originally from California, so it was a big move coming to Georgetown,” said Anjali Bobba (B’23). “The meditation center was a great experience, because I was able to do the same Āratī, songs, and chants that I grew up with at home. Georgetown is very challenging academically, and I don’t think that I would have been able to do what I did at Georgetown without Dharmic Life. It was like a reset for me.”

Inspired by their daughter Anjali’s experiences with Dharmic life programming and the Dharmālaya, Durga Bobba (MBA’96, Parent’23,’25) and his wife Geetika in 2024 established Georgetown’s first endowed fund for Dharmic Life, which will provide ongoing support for services, communal meals, festival celebrations, retreats, and more.

A renovated Jewish gathering space

The Leavey Center is also home to the Ammerman Makóm, a space for Jewish life. First created in 2011 and updated in 2024, the space includes a kosher kitchen and now has a larger sanctuary area, a separate social space, and a reoriented ark.

The renovations were made possible by donations from Andrew R. Ammerman (SFS’72) and the Ammerman family; Michelle Roemer Wolf (C’85) and Steve Wolf (B’84); and Nicole Duclos Toporowicz and Alan Sloane Roemer (B’92).

Commenting on the renovations, Zach Samuel (SFS’26) said he was excited that more members of the Georgetown community could now attend services and events. “It’s really great having a space like that at a Jesuit university,” he said. “It’s not something I expected, but it’s a really wonderful part of being a student here.”

A first-of-its-kind mosque on a U.S. campus

Also on the Hilltop Campus is the Yarrow Mamout Masjid, which officially opened in 2023. The Muslim prayer space is the first masjid with ablution stations, a spirituality and formation hall, and a halal kitchen on a U.S. college campus. Georgetown was also the first U.S. university to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain, Imam Yahya Hendi, who joined Georgetown in 1999.

Imam Hendi first envisioned the masjid years ago, and worked with students, faculty, staff, donors, and a design firm to create a space for reflection, prayer, community, and interfaith dialogue for Muslim and non-Muslim students at Georgetown. The masjid offers five daily prayer services, educational programming, and community-building.

Explaining the masjid’s impact on her Georgetown experience, then-student Roudah Chaker (C’24) said, “I wear a hijab, and that’s always the first identity I’m seen as. But in this one space, I’m seen as me. I’m seen as my personality. I’m seen as my intelligence. I’m seen as my heart and my soul. And this makes me feel safe, knowing that I can just be who I am.”

Preserving Georgetown’s spiritual heart

Philanthropy also has supported continued improvements in Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart, whose renovation—the first of the major sacred space renovations—was largely completed in 2014, led by a gift from Kathleen (F’77) and Francis Rooney (C’75, L’78) (Parents’13).

Ongoing updates allow Georgetown to protect this place of tranquility, where generations have attended Mass, exchanged vows, joined the Catholic faith, and experienced other meaningful moments. These investments extend to the musical programming within Dahlgren—for instance, upkeep of the 1,094-pipe Lewnowski Family Organ, which beautifies the university’s masses and other special celebrations.

Elevating treasured Catholic and Christian spaces

Other revitalized worship and gathering spaces on Main Campus include the Copley Crypt Chapel and Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman Chapel of St. William, which are located in historic Copley Hall and serve Georgetown’s Orthodox Christian, Protestant, and Catholic communities.

Part of our campus for more than 85 years, these historic chapels have undergone a series of critical renovations and enhancements, with the generous support of several families, including Kathleen (F’77) and Francis (C’75, L’78) Rooney (Parents’13); Jerry (C’63) and Bob Dempsey (C’66, L’69); and the Lewnowski family. One highlight was the addition of custom religious icons used in both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox worship, thanks to a generous gift from Michael Psaros (B’89) and family, who also endowed the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Orthodox Chaplaincy at Georgetown.

In addition, Georgetown established a space for ecumenical Christian prayer and contemplation within the former Jesuit Community chapel, creating a gathering place for student faith groups, individual reflection, and events.

Expanding spiritual resources on an expanding campus

Georgetown also continues to grow its spiritual and religious spaces on the university’s Capitol Campus. Those include St. Thomas More Chapel, a Muslim Prayer Room, and contemplation and meditation rooms.

In addition, located in Georgetown’s new educational hub at 111 Massachusetts Ave. is the Mission and Ministry Multifaith Center, which includes offices for meetings with chaplains and staff, a common area for group gatherings, and a contemplative space with prayer rugs, cushions, and movable chairs.

Student engagement with these resources—and sacred spaces across both of the university’s Washington, DC, campuses—has only grown, calling us to continue strengthening the places and activities that bring together Georgetown’s faith communities.