Daniel Zhao, Senior Photographer

Family weekend is fast approaching, and different religious groups on campus will be hosting events to engage with students and their families. 

The News spoke with religious groups on campus about what they have planned.

Buddhist Meditations

On Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., there will be a guided meditation in the Buddhist Shrine Room beneath Harkness Tower.

Buddhist Chaplain Rev. Sumi Loundon Kim will be leading the meditations. 

She said that the meditations were very popular during last year’s family weekend. Many students brought their parents to the event, and some parents even came without their children.

“There’s not really that many opportunities for people to be together in that way, where there’s permission to be silent together. And so I think that’s also a kind of a special experience for people,” Kim told the News.

Kim said that this weekend’s meditations will be very accessible, even for those with little experience. A wide range of families came last year — in addition to those who follow Buddhist practices, Kim also met parents and students who follow other religions, or who follow none at all.

This weekend, there will be 20-minute guided meditation sessions, followed by a discussion of the Buddhist program at Yale and a Q&A. Space is limited, so students and parents should register ahead of time. Saturday’s meditation is already full.

Christian Union

Christian Union will be hosting events at their ministry house at 31 Whitney Ave. On Friday at 5:15 p.m., there will be an open house, and they will also have a non-denominational worship night on Saturday at 9 p.m., where a Christian band called Path of Life will also perform.

These events are open to all and families do not need to register to attend.

“It’s like a true family worship night,” said Sua Lee ’26, vice president of Christian Union.

Lee believes that these events are an opportunity to spotlight the Christian community on campus. Many students bring their parents to the Christian Union to show them the community they have found there.

Lee noted that parents are also increasingly interested in getting involved in the Christian Union, something she has not seen before. Though Lee is not sure what form this will take, there will be discussions this weekend at the events about how parents can engage with the Christian Union. 

Hindu Students Organization

The Hindu Students Organization, or HSO, will host an open house on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Hindu Prayer Room, which is in the basement of Bingham Hall. Families do not need to register in advance.

The event will be a way for parents and families to interact with other members of the Hindu community at Yale, Aadi Krishna ’26 said. 

“It’s always a great opportunity for parents and family members coming to visit to get a sense of the community that the HSO has built,” Krishna said.

The HSO hopes to offer a variety of Indian snacks and desserts at the open house.

The Slifka Center for Jewish Life

The Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale, located at 80 Wall St. will host several events this weekend. Families are invited to Shabbat services and dinner on Friday night, as well as a performance by Magevet, Yale’s Jewish a cappella group. Additionally, on Sunday morning, there will be a bagel brunch at Slifka.

“Students and families are welcome to all the rest of our Shabbat celebrations throughout the day on Saturday,” wrote Uri Cohen, executive director of the Slifka Center. 

Cohen is excited to welcome families into the weekend’s experiences.

Students and families should register for meals at Slifka this weekend; a full schedule of events, including times for services and meals, can be found here.

The Muslim Students Association

The Muslim Students Association will host a Family Weekend Meet and Greet this Saturday in the Humanities Quadrangle, according to their official Instagram. 

The event will start at 6:30 p.m., with Maghrib at 7:00 p.m.