Faith at Trent: Spiritual Supports for Students

As students venture away from home to pursue their academic goals, they may be venturing away from their spiritual community for the first time. To help students find their place in the campus community and ensure their wellbeing, Trent offers a variety of supports for students, including resources for spiritual guidance.  

The Trent Multi-Faith Network (MFN), operated by the Office of Student Affairs, is a collaboration between Trent University and volunteers from various faith traditions and groups within the community, who provide spiritual and religious support to Trent students.  

If a student needs a faith-based lens to navigate the challenges of life away from home, the MFN can be a great support, explains Spiritual Affairs coordinator, Johanna Hart. There is a community connection for everyone. 

Exploring questions about faith

Being away from home for the first time can often bring up questions about spirituality and one's place in the world. 

“The Multi-Faith Network provides students with the spaces necessary for students to come and ask those questions in a safe environment,” said Jackson Wiltshire, a Catharine Parr Traill College student in the Swansea Law & Arts program.  

Having the space to be curious and ask questions is an option all Trent students should be able to explore at least once, regardless of the subject.  

Finding space for faith

Chase Kilbourne is a third-year Otonabee College student studying, Philosophy and Psychology and found his space for faith through the MFN, which helped him find belonging at Trent.  

A practicing Buddhist, Chase uses the Multi-Faith Room and its resources to practice his religion in a quiet environment. When Chase realized that the Multi-Faith Room was missing meditation cushions, he reached out to the MFN and got connected with a local organization. Shortly after, meditation cushions were added to the Multi-Faith Room for students to use.  

Students like Chase help make the space unique and are a big part of keeping it a sacred space for a variety of religions and their practices. 

Learn more about the MFN and the resources available to students through Spiritual Affairs. 

Posted on April 28, 2023