As the routines of daily life drastically change in response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, many people are feeling unsettled, uncertain, and, likely, afraid. The precautions being implemented at Georgetown, and institutions around the country and world, to ensure social distancing are in the best interests of health and well-being of all in our communities. But social distancing does not have to mean social isolation. In these times, how might we marshal the spiritual and mission resources of our Spirit of Georgetown Jesuit values to support one another and maintain deeper inter-personal connection as we adjust to this new reality that requires us to keep our physical distance from one another?
In an effort to maintain our Jesuit mission commitment to Care for the Whole Person, Georgetown SCS is offering some dedicated online opportunities to maintain connection in a time of social distancing:
- Daily Digital Meditation at SCS: Each day of the work week, from Monday to Friday, at 12 pm EST, SCS will host a digital meditation for 10 to 15 minutes over Zoom. You can join the digital meditation space by clicking this link. Led by Jamie Kralovec, SCS Associate Director for Mission Integration, this 10-15 minute meditation will be a contemplative opportunity to sit in intentional silence in group solidarity with everyone who participates. This will be an inclusive form of silent meditation, blending Eastern and Western practices, and all are welcome to participate. Participants will automatically be muted upon entering the digital space but will have the option of appearing visually through the camera feature. Please send any questions about this opportunity to Jamie Kralovec (pjk34@georgetown.edu).
- Prayer Intentions: In an effort to create space for all members of this community to express whatever intentions are on your hearts and minds during this challenging time, we are offering a way for you to submit these intentions online. Click this link to enter whatever requests that you would like the larger SCS community to take to prayer, meditation, or silent reflection (if you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can fill out the prayer request confidentially). Whatever spiritual or religious tradition you are part of, or no tradition all, expressing these requests is a way to practice deeper inter-dependence and mutuality in a time when it might feel harder to do so.
- Other Spiritual Resources: There are many ways you might deepen your own spiritual and reflective practices in the midst of the response to this situation. We suggest reading this message from Fr. Greg Schenden, S.J., Director of Campus Ministry, who offers ways to stay connected to the chaplaincy resources of the university.
While it might not feel like it, this time of uncertainty is an opportunity for our learning community to grow a greater spirit of generosity, magnanimity, and solidarity with each other. We encourage everyone to continue to monitor the university’s response to COVID-19 by visiting this page.