Faiths community invited in the Muslim Suburban Mosque to breakfast together during Ramadan
Muslim Community Center Chicago Interfaith Team organized a dialog during Ramadan interfaith dinner to peace builds peace and compassion in the Chicago community by uniting people of diverse faiths and cultures. Their vision is to build a more peaceful world for future generations. The event was hosted on Saturday March 25th, 2023, at Muslim Education Center in Morton Grove.
Muslim Community Center, Chicago is a grassroots community peace organization, established in 1969. For over five decades, they have been serving the community with a mission of promoting interfaith understanding and peacemaking through programming and events. MCC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization located in Chicagoland.
Muslim Community Center hosts an annual tradition for the last two decades which brings together faith leaders, law enforcement and public officials to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan fasting in Islam and break the fast with the inter-faith community.
The president of the Muslim Community center Mr. Masood Bijapuri said, "The purpose of this kind of event is to come together as a community, pray and support to promote compassion towards all believers."
Dr. Sam, who was the volunteer of this event, said, "I love this kind of gathering to bring people with different worldviews together for conversation and food. Today I share my experience with many traditions, and we also wanted to create a space for others to explore their culture and spirituality."
More than 200 people, including state and city officials and people of diverse faiths and backgrounds attended the annual Ramadan dinner, which also featured speeches. The event was held in the decorated Social Hall.
The program's Moderator was Ms. Farah Siddiqui. She welcomes all guests to the Muslim Community center to breakfast with Muslims. She also highlighted how Holy Ramadan is the most important month on the Muslim calendar.
The main program was a panel discussion with several faiths and discussed the role of fasting in culture and religion.
The panelists were Andy Kirschner from the Chicago advisory council of the one America movement, Vanessa White, D. Min. Associate Professor of Spirituality and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Nora Zaki Mantas. University Chaplain, Interfaith Relationship University Ministry.
During panel discussion they discussed similarity of religions fast at different periods of time for reasons that depend on religious laws and culture. In terms of Abrahamic religions and their holidays, they also spoke about Judaism and Yom Kippur, Christianity and Islam and Ramadan.
Guests shared their personal stories and learned from one another's successes and challenges on Table Discussions.
Before the breaking the fast, a call to prayer was announced with its meaning in the subtitles, followed by a prayer.
Prayer before the meal was performed by Father Corey Brost.
Due to the overwhelmingly positive response, Muslims Community Center Decided to continue these interfaith efforts and publicize future events among Faith and peoples in the Chicago area.