By Tate M. Slaven
Contributing Writer
“In a global society it is important to have an understanding of religious traditions so that we can have a respect and understanding based on fact and not on suppositions.”
Sister Suzanne Kush, C.S.S.F., director of St. Bonaventure’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern, explained why the Festival of Faiths is such an important event on the St. Bonaventure campus. The Festival of Faiths is an event that allows people to explore many religions and traditions including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. Sister Suzanne, along with the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, wanted to create a forum to evoke not only tolerance but also a true appreciation of our eclectic faith communities.
St. Bonaventure embraced religious diversity during the event, which took place Feb. 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the University Chapel.
James McCarthy, a junior journalism and mass communication major, expressed his excitement at how this event could affect students on campus.
“On a campus that was founded on Catholic Franciscan values, it is easy to believe that the St. Bonaventure community is single-minded, but we’re not,” McCarthy said. “Take a walk around campus and talk to a few students. There isn’t just diversity in race and ethnicity, but there’s diversity in faith, and the best part is that St. Bonaventure is accepting of that.”
The Festival of Faiths presents students and people from the community the chance to come and explore faiths that may differ from their own. Its purpose is to foster understanding, cooperation and collaboration among various religions.
To some students, like Abigail Rocque, a junior physical education major, an event like this can seem overwhelming at first.
“When I first heard about the event I didn’t understand why our Catholic university was worrying about other faiths, mostly because when it comes to religion I tend to be closed-minded,” Rocque said. “After I learned more about the event, I realized that it won’t just educate me on differences between faiths, but it will help me be more accepting to people who are different than me when I enter life after college.”
Other students see the event as a tool that will aid them in their career choices. Edward Dowd, a freshman journalism and mass communication major, sees the Festival of Faiths as an opportunity to learn so that when he enters the journalism world he is able to see the world objectively.
“To be open-minded is good and that is what the event is promoting,” Dowd said. “This event will help me in the journalism field because you have to have knowledge about all different people, even if you don’t believe the same as they do, in order to write a good story.”
The Festival of Faiths is an opportunity for people to gain an appreciation for people from all walks of life. Sister Suzanne explained this is why St. Bonaventure University has been sponsoring a number of events from 2011-‘13.
“In the spirit of the Franciscan heritage of the university, we are called to be bridge builders,” Sister Suzanne said. “That is, to reach out in a spirit of understanding and respect of the diversity on the campus and the global community.”
