Spiritual and Religious Life Center
Whether you want to maintain your relationship with your faith or explore possibilities, we are here to support you! If faith is of interest to you, we encourage you to explore The Spiritual and Religious Life Center (SPARC)—pronounced “spark”—one of Penn’s cultural resource centers.
At SPARC, everyone is welcome, regardless of religious affiliation. The Center, located in Houston Hall, provides a home on campus for students, faculty, and staff with an interest in religious and spiritual study, meditation, and exploration. It's the central source for information about religious and spiritual groups on campus and local houses of worship. A list of student faith and fellowship organizations can be found on their website.
Students celebrating Holi festival.
Philadelphia is home to a remarkably diverse religious community and we encourage you to connect with the congregation of your choosing. The staff at SPARC can help you find houses of worship or programs in Philadelphia that align with your traditions.
SPARC is an open and welcoming space where students can drop in to hang out, study, or rest. Additionally, SPARC provides space for daily prayer (including daily Muslim prayer space), study, and meditation for individuals and groups. The Center supports a wide range of religious and spiritual student organizations on campus by consulting on religious accommodations for holidays, dining, prayer spaces and housing. The Center also develops programming to improve interfaith understanding and build meaningful, collaborative relationships across religious differences.
SPARC staff provide confidential support, plan campus memorial services, officiate weddings, and organize and lead vigils when world or life events happen impacting members of the Penn community. You can set up an appointment or drop in to see one of our Chaplains.