Thursday’s Spiritual Smoothie: Interfaith Celebrations

Posted by admin on February 25, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie |

Two important feasts are celebrated by our Muslim and Jewish sisters and brothers this week: the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, and the feast of Purim.  As a campus minister on a Catholic campus our primary outreach is to our Catholic community, but our mission is to support all members of our University community in deepening their relationship with God.  This, of course, translates into helping our non-Catholic students attend services in their local tradition, supporting Hillel and our Muslim student group, and other small ways of living out our Catholic identity in a spirit of hospitality, welcome, and openness to the multiplicity of ways that God becomes known in the lives of others.

Today I invite you to pray “For Unity Among Peoples of Different Faiths,” a prayer written by Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz who served as the Executive Director of The Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding here at Sacred Heart.  It’s a good reminder that it is we are at our best when we celebrate the dignity and worth of every person.

Almighty God,
grant us the wisdom and humility to acknowledge you as
the Creator and supreme power of the Universe.

You have fashioned us in your image.
You have breathed life into us and into all living things.
Give us the strength to be a source of goodness and kindness
for all that you have brought into existence.

It is your will that we should be many peoples and cultures.
Unite all your children in the desire to do your will.
May each one of us contribute to the best of our ability
to making this a better world for all humanity.

May peace of mind, peace of spirit
and world peace reign soon.

Amen.

Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.