Story and photos by Yonathan Shimelis

The UMD Memorial Chapel is home to many events and traditions, from weddings to service project programs. When visiting the chapel, students can find three wooden benches in the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance. Underneath each bench is a journal and pen for students to anonymously write notes. 

The journals are filled with random notes, thoughts and drawings from students, former students or anyone else  in the community. The notes range in topics from student’s thoughts on a given day to alumni visiting with a significant other. Sometimes people leave more serious notes opening up about mental health struggles.

The notebook tradition has been in place since the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance began in 2010. 

Denise McHugh has been working as the chapel coordinator for ten and a half years. McHugh has been transcribing the journals since 2015 and is now on the 69th journal. 

“We think of the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance as a place apart from the hubbub of campus,” said McHugh. 

McHugh began transcribing the journals for a simple reason. 

“We want to get a sense of what students are thinking about and feeling,” said McHugh. “The transcriptions offer us a window into student life.”

Some of the older journals can be found in the chapel lounge on the bookshelf. Others are in storage in the chapel.

The chapel was built in 1952 after four students began petitioning to construct an interdenominational chapel on campus in 1946. In the years after, the chapel was dedicated to veterans from both world wars. 

Today, the chapel holds a different meaning or purpose for students and faculty. 

The chapel sees students around five to six times a week and has 14 different chaplains representing different faith denominations. 

“A lot of students do homework in the lounge, and they also come here to play the piano. It’s just a safe space for everyone,” said senior anthropology major Kailey Oakes.

Oakes is also the senior event manager for Memorial Chapel and has been working there since June. 

Matthew Cauley, a junior business management major, has been visiting the chapel since his freshman year to regularly practice piano. 

“It is a nice bit of solitude. It is definitely a very calm place,” Cauley said. 

McHugh hopes the chapel can become an important place for all students and faculty. 

“I want folks to know that everyone is welcome here no matter what your faith or background is,“ McHugh said.