Let’s Talk: A reflection at the beginning of Ramadan

Let’s Talk: A reflection at the beginning of Ramadan

The latest reflection organized by Assistant to the President for Mission Integration Catherine Punsalan-Manlimos is one that encourages us to learn lessons from all faiths. She writes:

One of the gifts of being at a Catholic institution in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions is being encouraged to lean into the riches of one’s religious faith or humanist commitments to be sustained in difficult times. This week’s email and video are arriving early to mark the start of a sacred time for our Muslim brothers and sisters who began the observance of Ramadan “at the sighting of the first crescent of the new moon” this past Friday. The holy month invites believers to a time of fasting, prayer and reflection and will conclude on the evening of May 23, leading to the three day celebration of Eid al-Fitr or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”

Laila Sareini (Biochem & Pre-med, ’21), President of the Muslim Student Association, reflects on the importance of prayer and reliance on God, wisdom she draws from Islam.