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The Virgin Mary has been a companion throughout important events in Mexico’s national history, says Monsignor Jorge Antonio Palencia. “Our Lady has accompanied the nation across the foundation, through the independence movement, then through the revolution movement.” More
The spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims speaks about poverty, peace, philanthropy, and religious understanding; a chart-topping album conveys the music that is central to Benedictine monastic life. More
“We used to have situations, particularly in isolated parts of the world, high mountain areas, where different communities were practicing a different form of Islam from one village to the other. What we want to do is to have those villages work together. Accept that there are different interpretations.” More
The Cuban government is showing signs of being more open to religious life in Cuba; women lead prayers and preach sermons at a new all-female mosque; and a Hindu boy’s rite of passage. More
We visited a Hindu religious coming-of-age ceremony for nine-year-old Rushil Ramakrishnan at the Hindu Temple in Adelphi, Maryland. More
A madrasa in Pakistan is proving that an Islamic school can offer a useful education while avoiding politics and extremism; members of the Choral Society of Grace Church in New York say singing as a group feeds their souls and creates community; and after a month of fasting, Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan with a three-day festival of food and friendship. More
“There’s threat to whatever we do here at Jamia Islamia. But for me, it is a mission,” says Mufti Abu Huraira, whose father established the Jamia Islamia Clifton madrasa where students are vetted for any ties to extremist activities and political discussion is forbidden. More
“To me, the choir is really a microcosm of what a community ought to be. People are not worried about status within their social position or their family hierarchy. What they are worried about is all together singing D major,” says John Maclay, music director of the Choral Society at New York City’s Grace Church. More
In South Carolina, a symbol of racial hatred and violence has been removed, but deep divisions remain, says Howard School of Divinity theology professor Harold Dean Trulear; First Corinthian Baptist Church, a historic African-American congregation in Harlem, is becoming more racially diverse; and volunteer doctors travel on a converted airplane to developing nations to perform low-cost eye surgeries and to teach other doctors to do the same. More
Faith communities, observes Howard University School of Divinity applied theology professor Harold Dean Trulear, are “founded on forgiveness.” Together the Charleston church shooting and the Confederate flag debate have “uncovered the depth of racism in our country and the ways our nation still remains deeply divided. But it also uncovered some real people of good will…Now we’re working very hard to try to do some healing.” More