A Malmgren Concert on March 29 will include the dedication of the newly installed organ and feature works by professors from the Setnor School of Music.
News
Students Build Bridges Across Beliefs
The Global Interfaith Leadership Project combines religious and spiritual formation with practical civic engagement.
by Dara Harper
In a world increasingly shaped by both connection and division, a diverse group of students is embarking on a distinctive journey of leadership and learning. The Global Interfaith Leadership Project (GILP), housed at Hendricks Chapel, represents a pioneering approach to preparing tomorrow’s leaders by combining religious and spiritual formation with practical civic engagement.
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Threads of Kindness: Quilters Serve Syracuse Community
John Boccacino
Feb. 23, 2026
There’s warmth emanating from the Noble Room in the lower level of Hendricks Chapel every Monday night whenever classes are in session.
Every sewing machine buzzes and hums as the members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters make handmade quilts that will keep vulnerable Central New Yorkers warm during the winter months.
“Those are chaotic nights. Everybody is working on a project that will end up at one of our partner charities,” says quilting enthusiast Judy O’Rourke ’75, G’10. “It’s nice knowing you’re helping someone out, and it’s nice knowing that something I enjoy doing is giving somebody else comfort.”
O’Rourke is one of 10-15 active members of the Hendricks Chapel Quilters—consisting of students, staff, faculty and community members—who put their love of sewing to good use weekly to produce beautiful quilts…
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Read more about the Hendricks Chapel Quilters on the SU Today website!
4 Named as 2026 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration’s Unsung Heroes
This year’s Unsung Heroes will be recognized during a virtual celebration, available Saturday, Feb. 28, on the Hendricks Chapel YouTube channel.
The 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Planning Committee has announced the 2026 Unsung Hero Award winners: Jamie Sterling ’26, Eman Tadros, Pass Da R.O.C.K and Bettie Graham.
The Unsung Hero Award is given to community members, students, faculty and staff who have made a positive impact on the lives of others but are not widely recognized for their contributions. The awards were created to honor Dr. King’s vision of creating positive change in a troubled world.
Continue ReadingPeace Feast Builds Bridges Between Christian and Muslim Students
Submitted by Joanna Lumbsden-Pinto, Ph.D.
On April 26, 2025, a small group of students gathered around a table for what would become the first “Peace Feast,” an interfaith initiative designed to cultivate friendship, trust, and meaningful dialogue between Christian and Muslim students at Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF.
Peace Feast was envisioned as a sacred space — one where students could speak openly about their faith, listen deeply to one another’s stories, and build relationships grounded in mutual respect.
Mayor Sharon Owens ’85 to Speak at SU’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
City of Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens ’85 will serve as the featured speaker for the 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University. This year’s theme is “The Dream Lives Here.”
Continue ReadingBuy Your Tickets for The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration!
The wait is over! Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! Please read the info below, especially if you are buying a table, or two!
Continue ReadingRebecca Reed Kantrowitz Named Interim Dean of Hendricks Chapel
Rebecca Reed Kantrowitz has been officially appointed as the interim dean of Hendricks Chapel! Hendricks staff and chaplains have appreciated Rebecca’s support and gentle guidance for years and now we can officially call her Dean Kantrowitz! Please join me in congratulating Rebecca on this appointment and supporting her as she assumes these interim responsibilities. A search for a permanent Dean will begin during the spring semester.
More about Dean Kantrowitz:
Kantrowitz brings four decades of student life experience and a deep commitment to Syracuse University to this role. She first joined the University in the 1980s as a residence hall director. She went on to hold positions at the University of California, Berkeley and Hamilton College before returning to Syracuse in 2002 as director of residence life.
Following 10 years in senior leadership in the Division of the Student Experience, Kantrowitz was appointed associate dean of Hendricks Chapel in 2018. There she has skillfully supported our chaplaincies, religious and spiritual life groups, and the Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders, while overseeing critical initiatives including the Student Opportunity Fund and University food pantries.
Her leadership extends across campus through her service on the University Senate and into our broader community as a board member of InterFaith Works of Central New York. This combination of institutional knowledge, interfaith expertise and commitment to student well-being positions her to successfully guide Hendricks Chapel during this time of transition.
Valparaiso University Announces Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., as 20th President
Vice President and dean of Hendricks Chapel, Rev. Brian E. Konkol, has been appointed as the new president at Valparaiso University in Indiana. Konkol has served as the dean of Syracuse University’s Hendricks Chapel since 2017 and will begin his new role at Valparaiso on Jan. 1, 2026. Congratulations to Dean Konkol and may he have many blessings in his new role!
Sacred Space, Stronger Community: Catholic Center Renovations Inspire Students
A transformational gift from Life Trustee and alumnus Daniel D’Aniello ’68, H’20 and his wife, Gayle, supported the construction of a new chapel and renovations.
Brendan Worobel ’26 and his twin sister Nicole ’26, seniors from Holmdel, New Jersey, found a home at the University’s Catholic Center. There, they found a welcoming community that helped them settle into life at Syracuse.
Brendan began attending Mass during his first year. Through the years, more of his friends, including his brothers from Theta Chi fraternity, have joined him for Mass and activities each week.