Muslim Catholics Join the 26th Annual Ramadan Iftar by breaking Bread

Muslims worldwide maintain a daily fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink to concentrate on their relationship with God during the holy month of Ramadan, which this year starts on the March 1st and concludes on March 30.

At the 26th Muslim-Catholic Iftar supper on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at MEC Morton Grove, attendees bow their heads for a prayer. Tuesday performed the end of a day of Ramadan fasting, as suburban Muslims and Catholics gathered to break bread.

At the Muslim community center Morton Grove, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago hosted the 26th annual Muslim-Catholic Iftar.

The archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, stated, "This year, we have the unique opportunity to discuss together how both communities are especially committed to prayer, fasting, and charitable giving during these respective holy times in our traditions: Lent and Ramadan overlap." These kinds of interactions greatly enhance our understanding of one another and provide Muslims and Catholics with a consistent opportunity to establish friendships and trust.

He stated that Lent is a time for Catholics to "look more closely at the foundations of our faith and concentrate on the essentials."

Habib Quadri of the Muslim Community Center and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago provided thoughts on "Bridges of Hope" after Dr. Abdulghani Hamadeh, chairman of CIOGC, and Cardinal Blase J. Cupich opened the discussion with remarks.

During the 26th annual Iftar Dinner on March 4th at the Muslim Community Center, Dr. Abdulgany Hamadeh, chairman of CIOGC, emphasized the value of interfaith dialogue as a way to resolve conflict and aid in promoting peace in an unstable world.

In observance of the Muslim community during the month of Ramadan, representatives from other religious traditions gather for the dinner in a spirit of camaraderie and hospitality.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich informed the audience that the Iftar Dinner is a potent illustration of how interfaith discussion may foster enduring friendships and understanding between individuals from a wide range of religious traditions.

The main speaker for the event was Sr. Barbara Reid. She emphasized in her speech the positive effects of religion on humanity."As we have discovered from its pure sources, religion was and remains to be an approach to justice, protection for people, architecture for the universe, and an enemy of illness, hunger, poverty, and anything that degrades human dignity," she concluded.
"It felt like they were all a part of one family as they broke their bread and fasts together on the same dining table," Imam Hasan Aly remarked.
Given the overlap between Lent and Ramadan, Habib Quadri acknowledged the significance of this season for both Muslims and Christians.

God's mercy is freely given and freely poured out, and it is abundantly available to everyone. Because we are all sisters and brothers, we Muslims and Christians must be merciful to each other and to everyone else," he added in his remarks to the guests.