‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Fiona. Fiona hopes this image that inspires her will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Peter. Peter hopes this image that inspires him will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Alex. Alex hopes this image that inspires him will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Sam. Sam hopes this image that inspires him will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Heather. Heather hopes this image that inspires her will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Marie. Marie hopes this image that inspires her will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Jed. Jed hopes this image that inspires him will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Mahshid. Mahshid hopes this image that inspires her will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Each post will comprise an inspiring image & some words of explanation from the relevant chaplain. Pictured: Illumination Window in Durham Cathedral. It commemorates Sara Pilkington, a Combined Arts student. It was designed & created by Mel Howse @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Inspiring Images’: an inspiring image from Julia. She hopes this image that inspires her will also inspire @durham.ac.uk students during this busy and stressful term @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Today begins Mental Heath Awareness Week 2026. We know it helps to talk to someone in confidence who will listen non-judgementally. The chaplains are here to listen to all @durham.ac.uk students and staff @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Join Heather & Robert, our Buddhist Chaplains, for meditation sessions to end the working week & begin the weekend open to all @durham.ac.uk students. No previous experience required. Each session is followed by an opportunity to chat over a cuppa in the TLC café @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Happy Vaisakhi to Sikh students, staff and friends celebrating the creation of the Khalsa (community of initiated Sikhs)! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

He is risen! The chaplains wish Orthodox Christian students, staff and friends a happy Pascha/Easter @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Happy Easter! Today, Christians throughout the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

This morning, most of the University’s Anglican chaplains joined w Acting Bishop of Durham, clergy & lay leaders for an uplifting Chrism Eucharist in Durham Cathedral. It’s a special opportunity for deacons, priests & bishops to renew their ordination vows @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Chag Pesach Sameach to Jewish students, staff and friends celebrating Passover! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Eid Mubarak! It was a pleasure to drop into today’s Eid celebration at the Oriental Museum in Durham. Thanks go to the Islamic Society & colleagues at the Oriental Museum for organising a fun & friendly event. Pictured w/ 2 students & 2 of my sons @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

'We have inadvertently priced 16-year-olds out of the jobs market' John Laramy of Exeter & North Devon Colleges Group on the perverse impact of minimum wage increases on employment opportunities for young people https://feweek.co.uk/minimum-wage-makes-16-year-old-apprentices-too-pricey-to-employ/

Join the County Durham Faiths Network for an evening of interfaith sharing on ‘“Love you neighbour”: what does this mean to you, and how do you put it into practice?’ @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Great to be at St Andrew’s Church in Newcastle for a wonderful Iftar: warm, friendly Geordie hospitality w/ a focus on unity & peace. Especially good to hear from a Sri Lankan refugee about the welcome he received on arriving in Newcastle. I enjoyed seeing old friends too! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Mahshid (Muslim Chaplain) & I participated in discussion today w/ students in Theology & Religion & Dr Guillermo Martin Saiz & Fran Brandon-Higgs (SU). We discussed Islamophobia, interfaith dialogue & benefits of engaging with those different from ourselves @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Yesterday, it was an honour to participate in the election of the next Bishop of Durham in my role as an honorary canon of Durham Cathedral @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

The chaplains send greetings to everyone celebrating International Women’s Day! We give especial thanks today for our women chaplains @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Happy Holi to Hindu students, staff and friends of @durham.ac.uk celebrating today! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Students & colleagues at @durham.ac.uk: if you’d value support, please reach out to the chaplains - email [email protected] or find contact details for all the chaplains at www.durham.ac.uk/faith-support @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

A personal reflection: Lent begins quietly for me this year after a busy day with this book created by the Society of Francis… ‘Ash Wednesday gives us that… invitation: to name what needs healing - in ourselves, in our communities, and in our relationship with creation’ @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Happy Year of the Horse to students, staff and friends celebrating the Spring Festival! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Ramadan Mubarak to Muslim students, staff and friends beginning the month of Ramadan! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Happy Maha Shivratri to Hindu students, staff and friends on this Festival of Lord Shiva! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

It’s World Interfaith Harmony Week. To find out more, go to worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com It’s a great week to reach out to those of differing faiths in friendship and harmony. Our fragile and divided world needs individuals with the courage to do so @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

@durham.ac.uk students, staff, alumni & friends: come & support your College Choir as they join w/ the Cathedral Choir to sing Choral Evensong in Durham Cathedral at 3.30pm on Sunday 8 February. Individuals of all faiths, beliefs and worldviews are most welcome to join us @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

This evening, we marked #HolocaustMemorialDay w/ event organised by @durham.ac.uk Jewish Society, Stephenson College & Chaplaincy Network. Vivienne Cato shared her mother Eva’s story as Slovakian Jewish Holocaust survivor. We also held an act of commemoration @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

#HolocaustMemorialDay event today in Newcastle w/ candle-lighting, prayers, secondary school students’ reflections & songs by massed choir of primary school children. Sensitively led by Smajo Beso, Bosnian Genocide survivor, w/ input from Holocaust survivor, Martin Stern @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Welcome Alex Gooch as Assistant Chaplain at St Mary’s College! Alex’s approach is informed by his lifelong interest in philosophy. He believes it can help us to understand ourselves & to live better. As a non-religious chaplain, he’s available to College members of all faiths, beliefs & worldviews

Stephenson College, Jewish Society & Chaplaincy Network welcomes all DU members to Holocaust Memorial Day Event. Vivienne Cato will speak before we #LightTheDarkness. To attend, complete forms.office.com/pages/respon.... Pre-registration is required @shaidmahmood.bsky.social @durham.ac.uk

Happy Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti to Sikh students, staff and friends celebrating the birth of Guru Gobind Singh! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

A joyful day of academic congregations today @durham.ac.uk. Congratulations to Fersa, Sebastian, Dr O’Hare (pictured) and all who graduated today or will do so tomorrow @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Enjoying a fire on this the last day of 2025. I’ve just finished reading a book about the 3rd Earl of Portsmouth & wondering whether any of my ancestors were involved in the 1830 Swing Riots in Hampshire. I pray that 2026 will bring health, joy, peace, justice & new discoveries. Happy New Year!

The Listening Service is available to DU students and staff throughout the vacation period. If you’d like to meet online or in-person with a listener, email [email protected] to arrange an appointment @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Delighted to say words of thanks on behalf of @durham.ac.uk to our staff and students for this fantastic effort in donating Xmas gifts to 3 local charities working with vulnerable people in local neighbourhoods and communities. Well done @dulib.bsky.social ! @revdgavinwort.bsky.social

This evening, Dr Robert Bluck (Buddhist Chaplain) gave the @durhamuniversity.bsky.social Chaplaincy Christmas Lecture on ‘Buddhism & Christianity: Rivals or Allies?’ It led to numerous thoughtful questions from those present. Picture: Dr Bluck & I - allies not rivals! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Fascinating visit to Faith Museum at Auckland Castle today w/ County Durham Faiths Network. Good for our group to provide feedback & offers of objects to better represent the diversity of faiths in Britain. Pictured: Prehistoric marked rock, C4th menorah & Stone Cross head @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

I was delighted to receive today from Jess Foster (President) a badge marking honorary life membership of the Hild Bede Student Representative Council (SRC). Go Hild Bede! @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

‘Religion is global and ubiquitous. So it’s something universities should highlight - not avoid.’ I welcome this research on religions and worldviews on campus. Thank you Kirstine Aune, @mathewjguest.bsky.social & Matthew Mayhew. @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

A delightful visit to the Sikh Gurdwara in Darlington this afternoon with my sons. Thanks to Kulvanth and her team for the wonderful hospitality @durham.ac.uk @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

Always a pleasure to return to Durham-this time for a reunion with dear friends from Hatfield College @durhamuniversity.bsky.social The November weather may be chilly but the reception and companionship are very warm!

Why not start next week off with a discussion about the future critically engaged directions for #TouretteSyndrome #research? The event features the wonderful Rena Zito, Danni Phoenix-Kane, Dan Whittaker and Diana Beljaars (and your's truly!) @durhamimh.bsky.social www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...

We were invited to discuss a no. of qns to help develop empathy & understanding while enjoying the lovely food. We didn’t debate or argue but sought to gain a deeper appreciation of one another across the divides. It was a really positive event & a hopeful step forward towards a better future (2/2)