Source: The Hawk
Over the past few years, Saint Joseph's University's has increased its focus and commitment to interfaith dialogue and relations, especially by promoting interfaith dialog on campus.
One example of this commitment was the fifth annual SJU Prays: Interfaith Blessings for the Spring Semester held on Jan. 29. At the blessing, students and faculty of all faiths gathered in the Chapel of Saint Joseph to celebrate the variety of religions shared on campus.
"The main objective is to ensure that the university is welcoming to all people on campus, irrespective of their background, to celebrate that diversity, and, mostly, to educate," said Deborah Lurie, Ph.D, the chair of the Interfaith Task Force.
"We want people to begin to understand that, although we might have different faiths, we do share a lot of common values and rituals, and we want to celebrate the commonalities and respect the differences as well."
The Catholic presence on campus is highly visible through crucifixes hanging in classrooms, the presence of Jesuits, and the large chapel next to the student center. Such displays may sometimes make it easy for the large Catholic population to forget that others in the Saint Joseph's community value a much wider array of religions and beliefs.
The university seems to be putting forth a great deal of effort to make those of non-Catholic backgrounds feel more welcome on campus.
Information about various activities for students of different faiths and about local churches, synagogues, and mosques is being offered on the Campus Ministry Web site and in freshman orientation packets.
In order to help draw attention to these other faiths and promote further education, the university hosts a series of seminars in the spring called "SJU Learns," which invites speakers to discuss various topics such as holidays, discovering spirituality through art, and pilgrimages.
As a whole, the university has increased its attention and focus on promoting interfaith dialogue. Smaller groups on campus have been formed as a means to bring together comfortably people of different faiths as partners in meaningful discussions.