inter-faith

 

https://www.upworthy.com/catholic-church-opens-doors-for-ramadan-dinner

Muslims across the world recently observed Ramadan. During Ramadan people choose not to eat during daylight hours (fasting) and only breaking the fast as the sun goes down in the evening. The time when people break their fast to eat is called Iftar and is a time when families and communities come together to “break bread”.

Covid restrictions have meant many Muslim communities have been unable to meet at sundown as indoor events are unsafe. A Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, realised they had cloisters that were an outside space that could work for their Muslim friends to meet and hold Iftar. 

The rector at Santa Anna, Father Peio Sanchez, opened the doors of the church at sundown so that Muslims could observe Iftar in the open air together. Catholic volunteers served 50-60 meals to Muslims every night.

Faouzia Chati is president of the Catalan Association of Moroccan Women and it was she that first approached Father Peio Sanchez. Faouzia says, “People are very happy that Muslims can do Iftar in a Catholic church because religions serve to unite us, not to separate us.”

Father Sanchez says, “Even with different cultures, different languages, different religions, we are more capable of sitting down and talking than some politicians”

Hafid Oubrahim, a Moroccan Muslim who attended the dinners says, “If you are Catholic or another religion and I am Muslim, that’s fine. We are all like brothers and we must help each other too.”

-          What is Ramadan?

-          Why do people choose to fast?

-          What does “break bread together” mean?

-          Why can’t Muslims meet up indoors to break bread together?

-          What is different about this Catholic church?

-          Why did people who were catholic volunteer to make food for people who were Muslim?

-          “religions serve to unite us, not to separate us.” What does this mean?-         

     - “Even with different cultures, different languages, different religions, we are more capable of sitting down and talking than some politicians” who is Father Sanchez talking about here?

-          “We are all like brothers and we must help each other too.” What does Hafid mean? What word could he add to make this sentence even more inclusive?

-          What does this story show us about religion around the world today?

-          Why is this about No Outsiders?