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Interfaith Ramadan Dinner - March 13 | MWC

  • 19 hours ago
  • 4 min read

Updated: 6 minutes ago

Interfaith Ramadan Dinner – March 13, 2026, at MWC
Interfaith Ramadan Dinner – March 13, 2026, at MWC

Uniting Communities Through Dialogue and Friendship


During the recent Interfaith Ramadan Iftar Dinner, we gathered together, across faith traditions and communities, to break bread, share stories, and reflect on the meaning of fasting, friendship, and belonging. In a warm and inclusive atmosphere—beautifully captured in our event photos showing joyful faces and a true spirit of collaboration—this initiative reflected our shared commitment to building bridges, strengthening dialogue, and fostering mutual understanding in our diverse city. This gathering was not only a wonderful evening of fellowship but a powerful testament to peace and unity.


The following is an article taken from the Vatican News (vaticannews.va)


“Christians and Muslims: What We Hope to Become Together.”

Based on the 2026 Ramadan message released by the Vatican, the theme focuses on 

"Lent and Ramadan as 'catalysts for a renewed world'". The message, dated February 17, 2026, was signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad (Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue) and Msgr. Indunil J.K. Kodithuwakku (Secretary). 




Key elements of this theme include:


  • Shared Journey: The 2026 message highlights that Lent and Ramadan overlap, allowing for shared solidarity among Muslims and Christians during a time of fasting. Providential convergence

  • Disarmament of Heart: Quoting Pope Leo XIV’s 59th World Day of Peace message, the Vatican calls for a "disarmament of heart, mind and life" to restore peace to a broken world.

  • Catalysts for Renewal: The message frames both traditions as opportunities for inner transformation to become a "catalyst for a renewed world, where the weapons of war give way to the courage of peace".

  • Solidarity with Suffering: The message expresses closeness to those suffering from injustices and calls for joint action to promote justice, equality, and dignity. 

 Bollettino Sala Stampa della Santa Sede +4


Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, in his role at the Dicastery, serves as the signatory for this annual message to the Muslim community for the month of Ramadan and the feast of 'Id al-Fitr 1447 H. (2026 A.D.). 


As it does every year during the month of fasting, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has released its message for Ramadan.

This year’s message, signed by the Dicastery’s new prefect, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, is centered on the theme: “Christians and Muslims: What We Hope to Become Together.”

“This time of fasting, prayer and sharing,” the message reads, “is a privileged opportunity to draw closer to God and be renewed in the fundamental values of religion, compassion and solidarity. This year, Ramadan largely coincides with Lent, which for Christians is a period of fasting, supplication and conversion to Christ.”

This rare alignment in the religious calendar, Cardinal Koovakad writes, “offers a unique opportunity to walk side-by-side, Christians and Muslims, in a common process of purification, prayer and charity.”


An inner transformation

“More than simply a month of fasting, Ramadan appears to us Catholics as a school of inner transformation.,” the message continues. In Christian tradition, Lent is a similar time, a period when “through fasting, prayer and almsgiving we seek to purify our hearts and refocus on the One who guides and directs our lives”.

Both Ramadan and Lent, through their calls to devotion and self-discipline, serve as reminders that faith “is not just about outward gestures but a journey of inner conversion,” the message emphasises.


Interfaith Ramadan Dinner – March 13, 2026, at MWC
Interfaith Ramadan Dinner – March 13, 2026, at MWC

A world in need of fraternity and dialogue

However, Cardinal Koovakad warns that “in a world marked by injustice, conflict, and uncertainty about the future, our shared calling cannot be reduced to spiritual practices alone.” He stresses that Christians and Muslims “can bear witness together to the hope that friendship is possible, despite the weight of history and the ideologies that divide us.”

In this Jubilee Year centered on hope, the message reaffirms the Christian belief that “hope is rooted in the certainty that God’s love is stronger than any trials or obstacles.”

Faith in God, the statement continues, is “a treasure that unites us.” This year, as both Christian and Muslim traditions converge in the observance of Ramadan and Lent, believers “have a unique opportunity to show the world that faith transforms both individuals and societies, acting as a force for unity and reconciliation.” The message underscores that Christians do not simply seek to coexist with Muslims but to “live together in sincere and mutual respect.”


Working together for peace

The common values shared by Christians and Muslims, such as justice, compassion and respect for creation, “should inspire our actions and our relationships, and serve as a compass for building bridges rather than walls”, the message goes on to say.

“In this season of Ramadan and the approach of ‘Id al-Fitr, we are happy to share this hope with you. May our prayers, our gestures of solidarity and our efforts for peace be tangible signs of our sincere friendship with you. May this feast be an occasion for fraternal encounters between Muslims and Christians, in which we can celebrate together God’s goodness.”



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