Yesterday, Franciscan friar & YouTuber Fr Casey Cole gave a lecture on ‘Healing wounds: a Franciscan mission in a world misshaped by screens’ in Durham. It was good to hear a distinctive perspective on Catholic engagement w/ social media that seeks to be positive & meaningful

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

A glorious Easter Monday on Observatory Hill in Durham

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

Ah, I see. There’s the Bothy at the St Cuthbert’s Centre (URC)

I stayed at Marygate House. It’s a wonderful place

Last week, I enjoyed a spiritually-invigorating retreat on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Pictures: monks carrying St Cuthbert’s coffin, St Cuthbert, St Aidan (founder of the Lindisfarne community) & view of the Castle with the Priory ruins in the foreground @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

Eid Mubarak to Muslim students, staff and friends of @durham.ac.uk! @shaidmahmood.bsky.social

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

Yes, it’s already taken two years

A reasonable assumption

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 chaplaincy@durham.ac.uk 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

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

Happy Year of the Horse to students, staff and friends celebrating the Spring Festival! @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

Enjoying refreshments in the Deanery with members of the massed college choirs who sang Choral Evensong most wonderfully in Durham Cathedral today @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

Job alert! Apply now for our two Student Interfaith Leader posts. Deadline: 16 February 2026 👉 durham.taleo.net/careersectio... @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