The Rev. Rick Spalding, Chaplain to the College
Richard.Spalding@williams.edu
I oversee religious and spiritual life at Williams, especially students affiliated with under-represented traditions and students who are exploring spirituality generally. With my colleagues, I work on inter-religious dialogues and several multi-faith services of worship each year. I’m an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church, USA – one of the Protestant Christian denominations. One of my great joys at Williams is leading a Winter Study course called “Explorations in Solidarity” in Nicaragua. If you stop by the Chaplains’ Office, probably you’ll also meet my dog Monty. He’s a very good listener.
Hazzan Bob Scherr, Jewish Chaplain
Robert.Scherr@williams.edu
I’m part of the answer to Chaplains’ Office trivia: which two chaplains are native Californians [and what are they doing on the second floor of Paresky in Williamstown]? In my career as a cantor, I’m a performing artist, teacher, listener, student, and occasional chef. So coming to Williams in 2004, after a career in congregational life, made perfect sense. After leading synagogue communities, it’s a thrill for me to work with the students who create a vibrant Jewish life here. I rejoice in our interfaith activities, and am glad to share in raising issues of peace and justice on campus.
Fr. Gary Caster, Catholic Chaplain
Gary.Caster@williams.edu
I’m a California native whose ministry as a Catholic priest keeps moving me further away from home. Having spent 19 years in the Midwest at Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan Universities, I now find myself in the Northeast, once again savoring the privilege of working with college students. I’m here not simply to attend to the sacramental and spiritual life of Catholic students, but also to work with my colleagues in respecting and sharing that sense of Mystery and Presence that is an essential part of our human experience – even on a secular college campus.
Bilal Ansari, Muslim Chaplain
Bilal.Ansari@williams.edu
I support the relevance of religion and importance of spiritual growth at Williams, especially students affiliated culturally and/or religiously with the very diverse Islamic traditions. I welcome theologically engaging dialogue with students and critical secular reflection on Islamic faith and practice in general. I am second generation Muslim with deep interfaith roots in the Black church experience, thus song and dance soothe my soul. I have both religious and secular education from North American Islamic scholars and received a masters from Hartford Seminary with a graduate Islamic chaplaincy certificate. One great love of my life is community building through empowering others to engage the world not as it is but what they envision it could be. I believe supporting religion and spirituality at Williams offers enduring resources for the personal development in student campus life and beyond.
http://whatsyourcalling.org/meet-the-characters?nodeId=124
Nancy Luczynski, Assistant to the Chaplains
Nancy.Luczynski@williams.edu
Assistant to the Chaplains
39 Chapin Hall Drive, Paresky Center
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-597-2483
Religious advisors at Williams include The Reverend Richard E. Spalding, Chaplain to the College; Fr. Gary Caster, Catholic Chaplain; Cantor Robert Scherr, Jewish Chaplain; and Bilal Ansari, Muslim Chaplain. The chaplains provide spiritual direction and counseling, and seek to support and facilitate the growth and development of all students.
Regular worship services are conducted by many religious communities, including Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim. The Williams Meditation Society organizes daily meditation sessions, while Buddhist, Hindus, Bahi’ and others gather for occasional religious devotion. All student religious groups sponsor speakers, discussions, and workshops which are open to the College community. There is considerable interfaith fellowship among the religious associations.
The Chaplains work closely with the Lehman Community Service Council to support student efforts in the areas of housing, hunger, big brother-big sister relationships, tutoring, and other needs in the surrounding community.The Chaplains’ Office handles requests for the use of the Jewish Religious Center and Thompson Memorial Chapel, including the O’Connell Room, a lounge on the lower level of the Chapel, available to faculty and student organizations.
