Religious and Spiritual Life

Student Faith-Based Groups

BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ)
Geneseo Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) is a student-run campus ministry with the goal of creating a community of believers who look at God in the center, look at each other for help, and seek out ways to help one another. BASIC regularly meets together to uplift, support, and correct one another through worshiping in song and prayer, as well as teaching, sharing The Word of God, and fellowship. Geneseo BASIC strives to cultivate a spirit-led meeting atmosphere that is meant to both refresh attendees, and spurn them on to love and do good deeds on the Geneseo campus and in other aspects of their lives.
Student Contact: basic@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Kim Leach leach@geneseo.edu
Website/Social Media: facebook.com/GeneseoBASIC 

Hillel: Jewish Campus Life
Main religious holidays are observed, Shabbat, Passover, Hanukah, etc.. We have weekly Shabbat services--they include reciting traditional prayers, songs, and the weekly Torah portion. Following services we have dinner together, usually following some sort of theme either relating to the weekly Torah portion, a holiday, or current events surrounding our faith. Our purpose is to unify people in a period of intense polarization. We are a Jewish organization but we welcome and encourage those who are not Jewish. We have a wide variety of students that attend our events and we are proud to foster such a comfortable environment.
Mission: Enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.
Our Vision: We envision a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.
Student Contact: hillelstudents@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Laura Matthews, Director of Jewish Student Life MatthewsL@geneseo.edu 
Website/Social Media: geneseo.edu/hillel ; instagram.com/geneseohillel ; facebook.com/geneseohillel 

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
The Purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture and God's purposes. This is open to all students and faculty!
Student Contact:
Advisor Contact: Victor Calamaro Victor.Calamaro@intervarsity.org ; Ernest Balajthy balajthy@geneseo.edu 
Website/Social Media: geneseoivcf.weebly.com 

Muslim Student Association
Student Contact: msa@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Yusuf Bilgic bilgic@geneseo.edu
Website/Social Media:

Newman Catholic Community of Geneseo
The Newman Community is the Catholic Parish serving the Geneseo campus. The parish is actively involved in campus and community life. They are a parish of and for students who provide a place where everyone can feel at home.
Student Contact: Katharina Nieves kmn12@geneseo.edu 
Advisor Contact: Mike Sauter, Campus Minister sauter@geneseo.edu ; Michael Lynch mlynch@geneseo.edu
Website/Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/geneseo.newman/ ;
https://www.stlukelivingstoncounty.org; 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/25963822075 

Ratio Christi: Christian Thinker's Club
"Ratio Christi (Latin for ‘The Reason of Christ’) is a global movement that equips university students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ. Our discussions are intended to bring together faith and reason to establish the intellectual voice of Christ at the university."
Student Contact: ratiochristi@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Aaron Heap heap@geneseo.edu
Website/Social Media: https://twitter.com/rc_geneseo

Wesley Foundation at Geneseo
Three simple rules: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. Saying them is easy, living them out is hard; let's explore together. We are an open group based out of the United Methodist Church, and explore faith through insightful discussion, good times and of course food.
Student Contact: wesley@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Cheryl Kreutter kreutter@geneseo.edu
Website/Social Media:

Yoga Club
The purpose of the Yoga Club is to promote self-discovery leading to Self-knowledge and Self-Actualization. The Yoga Club transmits the teachings, philosophy, and practices of Yoga to the SUNY Geneseo Community. The club is a collaborative effort between the Advisor/Instructor and Coordinators and is run on the basis of open communication and consensus. The club meets once a week.
Student Contact: yoga@geneseo.edu
Advisor Contact: Lars Mazzola lars2@twc.com ; Melanie Medeiros medeiros@geneseo.edu 
Website/Social Media: https://www.geneseo.edu/yoga

InterFaith Center

The InterFaith Center (IFC) serves the Geneseo campus and community by intentionally creating a welcoming and civil environment for the spiritual needs of individuals and groups through dialogue, self-reflection, and learning. Hillel, Newman, and Wesleyan groups are in residence and all faiths are welcome. Rooms may be rented for special events such as fundraising events and dinners.

• Weekly Mass, Jewish and Wesleyan (services, meals, and social gatherings)
• Host for Knights First Day of Service
• Host for GISP Dinners and Dialogues
• End of Year Picnic
• Geneseo Gives Back Program (May pick-up from residence halls and August sale)

11 Franklin Street
(585) 243-1460
geneseo.edu/interfaith_center
IFC@geneseo.edu

Geneseo Interfaith Service Project

The Geneseo Interfaith Service Project (GISP) began as a response to President Obama's 2011 invitation to colleges and universities across the nation to participate in a year of service to bring together people from diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds to collectively serve their communities. GISP is pleased to support the following programs:

• Interfaith Dinner and Dialogue
• Celebration of Love
• The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Leadership and Service
• MacVittie Lecture
• We Are Better Together Week
• The Labyrinth Project
• Livingston Cares Service Trips (with an interfaith focus)
• Prayer, Meditation, and Reflection Room

geneseo.edu/gisp
gisp@geneseo.edu