Chapel will return in the Teague Special Events Center after a year off due to COVID-19 despite no Opening Ceremonies taking place on the first day of class. Before the 2020-21 school year, Chapel was traditionally has taken place in Moody Colosseum. However, due to the construction on campus chapel will moved into Teague for the start of the semester.
“Moody Colosseum and Cullen Auditorium are both off the grid because of renovations that are happening,” Spencer Kasselman a junior biblical texts major from Abilene and a student worker in the Office of Spiritual Formation said. “So Teague is the only spot available.”
Chapel, an ACU tradition, will start at 11 a.m. Monday. Chapels for the rest of the year will take place at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. However, on the first day of classes, Opening Ceremonies such as the parade of flags will not be taking place.
“We don’t have a space to seat everyone for opening ceremonies,” university chaplain Cyrus Eaton said. “We have shifted our focus to getting students started on the right foot with spiritual formation.”
Faculty and students will still get to start the school year off more normally than last year, but without the intricate ceremony that usually takes place.
“We will not be able to have opening ceremonies and Opening Chapel together in their full grandeur,” said Kasselman.
Although opening ceremonies will not make its return yet due to lack of space, those in the Office of Spiritual Formation say they are excited for some of the normal spiritual formation events, such as Opening Chapel, to return.
“Opening Chapel is a good way to open up the semester as a community,” Kasselman said. “To have a rhythm of spiritual life together is important for building community. It is a good entrance to the semester.”
Opening Chapel will feature a talk from Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, and a guest speaker.
Requirements for COVID-19 during Chapel will follow university requirements. Those requirements do not include masks or social distancing, but do require unvaccinated students quarantine if exposed to the virus before classes begin.
