Interfaith Healing & Reflection
On November 1, 2024, the Chapel hosted an interfaith observance of Día de 
los Muertos and All Saints’ Day at Covenant Church. Leaders from ISKCON, the 
Zoroastrian Association of Houston, Alexander Jewish Family Service, Myoken-ji 
Temple, and the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, alongside music by Jesus 
Lozano, created a sacred space for remembrance. 
Attendees added photos and mementos to a community 
ofrenda, honoring loved ones while finding comfort 
in shared tradition.
Later that month, on November 7, 2024, the Chapel 
co-presented a talk on faith and race the launch 
of Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an 
American Church at Rice University. Author and 
Hopkins University political science professor Hahrie 
Han joined Pastor Chuck Mingo and congregant Jess 
McKnight for a timely conversation on spirituality, 
racism, and healing in divided times.
On December 12, 2024, the Chapel and the Institute for Spirituality and Health 
co-presented an annual holiday program of grief and healing at The Jung Center. 
With storytelling, meditation, music, and a restorative singing bowls sound bath, 
the program provided solace for those navigating loss during the holiday season.
Confronting Injustice
On January 15, 2025, the Chapel observed the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
with Sick of War: Understanding Health Impacts of U.S. Militarism. Political 
anthropologist David Vine delivered a keynote tracing the intersections of 
U.S. military bases, economics, and public health, 
followed by a panel featuring Dr. Seema Jilani, Pratik 
Chakrabarti, PhD, and Rev. Dr. Kelly Wadsworth. The 
program echoed Dr. King’s call to confront militarism 
as a barrier to justice and peace.
The Chapel was also proud to be among 20 U.S. hosts 
of Villa Albertine’s “Night of Ideas” on March 28, 
2025, a nationwide cultural marathon coordinated 
by the Institut Français. Under the theme Common 
Ground, the Chapel highlighted health justice 
through performances by the Texas Medical Center 
Orchestra, talks by journalist Prune Antoine, and 
moving presentations from Toni Hickman and Sofia Heyl. The evening culminated 
in a keynote by Dr. Peter Hotez, whose book The Deadly Rise of Anti-science 
underscored the urgent need to protect science in a time of polarization.
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