Sister Jacqueline Sanchez-Small was asked to offer a few words to those gathered with the Afghan Community of Erie to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of Ramadan. “The Benedictine Sisters came as immigrants to Erie 170 years ago,” she said. “Our early sisters knew the struggle of making a home in a foreign land. Today, we continue to support immigrants and welcome them to our city. We’re so grateful to be here tonight to share this meal with all of you.”
The Afghan Community had invited friends and neighbors to join them for the celebratory dinner that included traditional dishes prepared by the community itself for their guests. This was the third year they have hosted the dinner but the first year Benedictine Sisters have attended; Sisters Jean Wolbert, Rosanne Lindal-Hynes, Valerie Luckey, and Linda Romey joined Jacqueline for the celebration.
Even though our rituals are different there are similarities—Ramadan, like Lent, is a special season that focuses on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—and at our core we are all spiritual seekers. “We may follow different religions or faiths, but what matters most is that at the end of the day, we stand together, support one another, and show kindness and respect,” members of the Afghan Community told their guests.
Sister Jacqueline is a board member of Monastic Inter-Religious Dialogue, and at her last meeting members discussed reaching out to Islamic communities as a sign of prayerful solidarity at the beginning of Ramadan. She suggested the Benedictines offer gift baskets to four local Muslim organizations including the Afghan Community. “We hope this is the beginning of a long friendship,” said Sister Val.
