Justice Week Enlightened Our Understanding of Muslims

February 9, 2018

Justice Week at Cretin-Derham Hall always strives toward the Values of Catholic, Academic, Community, Leadership, Service, Diversity, and Equity. Aware of the many tensions in our country due to misinformation and stereotypes, this year’s Justice Week, Embracing Ishmael: Bridging Catholics and Muslims in Minnesota, sought to connect our community with our Muslim brothers and sisters through well-informed dialogue.

Pope Francis had this to say about dialogue:

“Do not be afraid of dialogue. … It is about agreeing on proposals for forging ahead together. In dialogue, everybody wins, and no-one loses. In arguments, there is someone who wins and someone who loses, or both lose. Dialogue is gentleness, it is the capacity to listen, it is putting yourself in the other person's shoes, and building bridges. During the dialogue, even if we think differently, not arguing but instead persuading gently. … Pride and arrogance must be uprooted. Pride and arrogance always finish badly. The proud ends badly. Or rather, I would answer to this question: how can we build a better world? Via this path. We need to reduce the level of aggressiveness in the world. The world needs tenderness, gentleness, listening, journeying together. Otherwise, today these things happen because the attitudes I have mentioned are lacking."

- Address to participants of Scholas Occurrentes, May 30, 2016

Justice Week kicked off February 5, 2018, with keynote speaker Ryan Harris'03, a devout Muslim and NFL veteran and Super Bowl Champion. His talk emphasized the importance of dialogue among people of all backgrounds, and he acknowledged that he became a better Muslim by attending Cretin-Derham Hall - by being around, and learning from, good Catholic and good Christian people and values.

Students had this to say about Harris’ presentation:

• “When he talked about Islam and Jesus, it was all so inclusive and welcoming.”
• “I liked that he was relatable - he talked about his experiences at CDH and many of them were relatable to our experiences now. He had some of the same teachers that we do.”
• “I liked what he said about getting a shovel and digging for your own diamonds (in reference to his Super Bowl ring). That there were many times in his life he wanted to give up and he didn’t. His hard work paid off.” 
• “I love history and I learned the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.” 
• “He gave us three good ideas to help Muslims we meet to feel safe: smile, tell them you know a Muslim, and greet them in Arabic with "As-Salaam-Alaikum.”

Weeklong Opportunities to Learn More

Throughout the week, students, staff, and faculty also had the opportunity to hear speakers from the metro Muslim community. Presentations included An Introduction to Islam and Muslims, Minnesota Muslims Up Close, Women in Islam, and Islam in the United States: A Historical Perspective.

We welcomed speakers from the Islamic Resource Group of Minnesota and Augsburg University to share their wisdom, experiences, and insights with the CDH community. 

A number of CDH students attended the annual Youth Justice Summit with 38 other students from Academy of Holy Angels, DeLaSalle, and Saint Thomas Academy. The annual summit hosted here on campus during Justice Week is an important opportunity for today’s youth to dialogue about topics related to the Justice Week theme.

Justice Week wrapped up with Lou Anne Tighe and Sophie Mongoven presenting Now That We Know, What Can We Do?  to further support the community in developing skills and becoming allies in our communities.

According to Ms. Tighe, the week was "an opportunity to grow as a people of God." Going back to the beginning of the Judeo-Christian faith, Abraham and Hagar were parents of Ishmael, whose descendants are Muslims today. Therefore, by “Embracing Ishmael,” may we continue to seek God whose grace is active among Catholics and Muslims.

Congratulations to faculty members Lou Anne Tighe and Sophie Mongoven, and student leaders Grace Altier and Livy Savard (co-chairs), Anna Ankerstjerne, Becca Leininger, Carolina Schuster, Lola Gerstner, Tess Hallman, Anna Hoppe, Melissa Garcia, Ruby Franzen, Mary Arend, Teagan Fee, Olivia Kinne, Natalie Diekmann, Ethan Thompson, Jane Grumbles, Kevin Downes, Haidyn Kruse, and Olivia Kalla for their dedicated work coordinating a powerful Justice Week.