Our Catholic-Muslim Commission of Southern New Jersey has been meeting regularly to plan our upcoming programs and activities. We have mutually mourned the death of our co-founder and friend, Zia Rahman, who died of a brain tumor last year. He was the engine behind much of our progress in Muslim-Catholic relations here in South Jersey. His wife, Zahida, remains an active member of our Commission and bravely continues the good work of interfaith outreach that was at the center of her husband’s life. During much of the anti-Muslim sentiment provoked by the tragic events of 9/11 our local Catholic and Muslim communities have been busy fostering good relations and mutual understanding.
In light of the recent controversies surrounding the building of the mosque and the almost burning of the Quran, a film that featured our local struggle in championing our Muslim friends attempt to build their mosque in Voorhees, “Talking Through Walls” a critically acclaimed documentary, has been frequently featured on public television stations and at public gatherings across the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a national Muslim civil-liberties and advocacy organization based in Washington, has praised our efforts here in South Jersey for our efforts to band together in solidarity in the building of the mosque and our historic, Agreement of Cooperation, signed by Bishop Galante and the Muslim American Community Association of Southern New Jersey.
As we continue our good work bringing our religious communities closer together we reached out as a Commission to St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Gibbsboro to join their efforts in reaching out to the needy this Thanksgiving. Msgr. Marucci, the pastor and Chris Parry, the pastoral coordinator for compassionate outreach, welcomed members of our Commission to join in their efforts to help needy families in putting together Thanksgiving baskets. This will be another first here in South Jersey, Muslims and Catholics officially working together in a charitable outreach. Reaching out in love to the poor is a dictate of both our religious teachings and traditions.
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday that originated in 1621, when Governor Bradford of the Plymouth colony appointed a day for public praise and prayer after the harvest and the practice spread throughout the other New England colonies. President George Washington, at the request of Congress called for November 26, 1789, “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God.” In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln named the last Thursday of November as a day of national observance. Given this rich history our Commission thought this would be a wonderful observance to begin our joint efforts to reach out to those in need in our area.
Both of our faith communities recognize the importance of thanking God for his many blessings and have been instructed by our scriptures to reach out to those in need. Both communities gather with family and friends to do just what President Washington asked of Americans, to thank God for his many blessings. While the holiday was founded by Protestant national leaders, it fits in well with Catholic, Muslim and of course Jewish practice and sentiment. Giving thanks to God is a common aspect of the prayer and worship of Jews, Christians and Muslims.
This year Muslims will be well prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving as it often falls close to the Islamic holiday of Eid ul Adha that falls on November 17th this year. Eid ul Adha celebrates the Patriarch Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. The holiday is strikingly similar to Thanksgiving; many Muslims say that the holiday marks a time to give thanks for your family’s good fortune by donating to those less fortunate. For Muslims this feast mirrors the sentiments of Thanksgiving Day. Muslims give thanks for their blessings in the Abrahamic tradition of sacrifice by reaching out and sharing their bounty with the poor.
Muslims and Catholics have much to be thankful for in our Southern New Jersey area. We have been blessed with gifts of unity and peace. Let us continue to foster good will and continue to work together shoulder to shoulder to help the poor among us. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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