Interfaith Civics Initiative

How can we get to know our neighbors better and learn to coexist across a wide range of religious traditions? Check back soon for upcoming interfaith learning and growing opportunities!

Questions? Contact spiritual_life@du.edu

• Ramadan 2025

  Ramadan is an important month of fasting and reflection within the tradition of Islam, and this year is observed in March. Ramadan Mubarak to all those who observe! 

  Menu of Helpful Links (links are under construction!):

  1. Visit the Holiday Hello page for a sheet with info about Ramadan
  2. Visit the Spiritual Storytelling page to share what Ramadan means to you
  3. Prayer location details
  4. Meal-plan box-meal pickup for halal meats, and info on Chef's Corner vegetarian buffet for sides, featuring weekly menus with influence from Middle East, Africa, China, and India!
  5. Date and milk pickup locations 
  6. Iftar gathering details
  7. Eid candy tabling info

   

  Did You Know?

  Fasting is one of Islam's five fundamental principles. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from right before sunrise to sunset. Many Muslims break their daily fasts with dates and milk and by sharing meals (iftar) with family and friends before praying. The last 10 days are the most holy for Muslims, and it's common for people to stay up throughout the night praying. And the end of Ramadan is celebrated with a one-to-three day festival known as Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's major holidays.

   

  Some Inclusivity Tips + Accommodations Links

  • Even observant Muslims might not fast for various reasons; it is respectful to avoid asking "Are you fasting?" 
  • Those able to fast will abstain from all food or drink (including water), and many more are involved in community events through the month–-all of which can impact energy levels, attention spans, and more, especially later in the day and cumulatively, later in the month. Please be mindful of this possibility in your classes, offices, meetings, and events.
  • It is OK to eat in front of Muslims without being apologetic. However, to be more inclusive, it can be helpful to avoid scheduling events during the day where food is the focus.
  • If you are running a class or meeting during the sunset hour, please be mindful that some may need to step away for breaking the fast and prayer.  
  • And since many Muslims stay up praying all night during the last 10 days of Ramadan, please be extra understanding and supportive these final nights.
  • Students seeking religious accommodations can find the process here (please note that DU asks students to contact faculty about possible religious accommodations by the end of the second week of the term). Staff can find resources here.

  
   

• Passover 2025

  Check back soon!

  Questions? spiritual_life@du.edu | Teams @ Sarah Pessin

• Religious Accommodations

  Students with course-related religious accommodations requests should reach out to the instructor within the first two weeks of class and fill in an SAIE request form; students can find the request form link and fuller details regarding the process (including any possible followup steps) as part of the SAIE process for student religious accommodations requests [*Note: the link to the request form is at the very bottom of the SAIE process].

  Students may also request religious accommodations for the meal plan.

  Faculty might consider a Syllabus Statement, such as "This classroom welcomes students with diverse spiritual and religious identities, experiences, and traditions. Students with Religious Accommodations requests should email the instructor within the first two weeks of class. For more resources and spiritual and interfaith opportunities, visit Spiritual Life at DU."

  Faculty can also find OTL resources for Spiritual and Religious Diversity.

  Faculty and staff can find resources from the EOIX webpage. 

  Questions or consultations? Contact Dr. Sarah Pessin, Director of Spiritual Life | sarah.pessin@du.edu or spiritual_life@du.edu

• Interfaith Calendar

  Find info on the Interfaith Calendar tab!

• Amazing 9 (religious/spiritual student orgs @ DU)

  Explore the current religious and spiriutal Registered Student Orgs--and follow them on Crimson Connect!

Previous Years | Ramadan + Passover

• Ramadan 2024

  Prayer Times, Rooms, Meal Details

  For information about prayer rooms, date and milk stations, and ordering Ramadan meals, please visit The Cultural Center's website here.

   

  Ramadan: Holiday Hellos sheet!

  Click here for the PDF!

  Click here for the PNG (image file)!

  

   

  Spiritual Storytelling for Ramadan!

  To share what Ramadan means to you-- including a favorite memory or experience related to Ramadan-- click here! We will post your reflections to the Spiritual Storytelling gallery!

  

  Gallery of Ramadan reflections 

  (Visit the Spiritual Storytelling tab on this page for the Ramadan gallery!)

• Passover 2024

  What is Passover? What is Matzah?

  Learn more about Passover here!

  Learn more about Matzah here!

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  Dining Details- Read below!

  DU Dining + Spiritual Life have partnered to create a pilot 8-day kosher-style Passover menu for Chef's Corner of recipes without bread or grain ingredients + use of kosher for passover cooking oil for the first part of the week (and a blend of canola and corn oil for the last few days (Sunday 4.28 - Tues 4.30)).

  *(Please note: This is not a kosher kitchen; students requiring corn/bean-free meals or certified kosher should contact spiritual_life@du.edu)

  We have also arranged for:

  • lettuce wraps at The Grill,
  • egg noodles at the Pasta Station, and
  • cauliflower crust pizza at The Pizza Station
  • Kosher for passover matzah (regular and gluten free) at Chef's Corner

  Below are ingredients for Chef's Corner foods from Monday dinner 4.22 till Tuesday dinner 4.30.

  MAIN DISHES

  Braised Beef Brisket

  Beef Brisket | Oil | Montreal Steak Seasoning | Salt | Black Cracked Pepper | Fresh Garlic | Beef Broth

  Tuscan Herb Tilapia

  Tilapia | garlic, thyme, parsley, pepper

  *Everything Omelet

  Margarine (may contain *corn) | Egg liquid (may contain *beans) | Cheddar cheese | vegetables

  *Scrambled Eggs, Jack Cheese, and Tomato

  Egg liquid (may contain *beans); tomato; jack cheese

  Herbed Grill Chicken Thigh

  Chicken | olive oil | Thyme, Parsley, Oregano, Garlic, Salt

  *Shakshuka (Middle Easter Baked Egg Casserole)

  Oil | *Cumin, paprika, cilantro, cayenne pepper, salt | canned diced tomoto | onion, red pepper | feta cheese | eggs

  *Spicy Calabaza Squash with Onion and Tomato

  Calabaza squash | vegetable soup base (may contain *corn) | olive oil | onion, plum tomato | sugar, *curry powder, salt, black pepper

  *Blackened Salmon

  Salmon; oil and cajun *seasoning

  Cod Livornaise

  Cod; anchovies; capers; olive oil; white cooking wine; tomato, black olive, green olive; basil, parsley, salt and pepper

  Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken

  Chicken breast; Thyme, lemon zest, garlic, parsley; olive oil; salt and pepper 

  *Herb Crusted Beef Top Round

  Beef; beef soup base; *mustard and allspice, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder; thyme

  Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

  Turkey breast; oil; onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, parsley, paprika; thyme leaves

  *Southwest Flank Steak

  Steak; garlic, lime juice, cilantro; *cumin, salt, pepper; 

  **********

  SIDES

  Sweet Potato Hash

  Potato, Red pepper, Green pepper, onion, olive oil, salt, pepper

  Oven Roast Garlic Red Potatoes

  Red potato | garlic, salt, black pepper

  *Moroccan Carrot Salad

  Carrots | Olive oil | fresh lemon | Cilantro, Garlic, *Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, Parsley | Yellow onion | dates 

  Lemon Olive Oil Vinaigrette

  Oil | fresh lemon juice | shallot, parsley, garlic, black pepper, salt 

  Smashed Plain Idaho Potatoes

  Potatoes

  *Roasted Garlic & Herb Quinoa

  Quinoa | vegetable stock (may contain *corn) | garlic, parsley

  Simply Roasted Carrots

  Carrots | olive oil | salt, pepper

  *Apple Braised Red Cabbage

  Oil; vegetable soup base (may contain *corn); yellow onion, red cabbage, red apples; sugar; apple cider vinegar

  *Beef Mushroom Gravy

  *Corn Starch; beef, beef soup base, mushrooms, salt, black pepper

  *Chickpea, Kale, Potato Hash

  *Garbanzo beans; oil; potato, onion, garlic, kale; salt and pepper

  Farmer's Market Vegetable Medley

  olive oil; carrot, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, garlic, rosemary, mushrooms

  Grape Tomato Salad

  olive oil; salt and pepper; tomatoes, shallots, dill, garlic

  *Mexican Red Rice

  *Basmati rice; oil; tomato, onion; garlic, clove, allspiece, bay leaves, salt

  *Sauteed Quinoa, Kale, and Almonds

  Red quinoa; olive oil; salt, pepper; kale, onion, vegetable broth (may contain *corn); almonds; dried cranberries

  *Simple Spicy Kale and Garbanzo Beans

  *Garbanzo beans; olive oil; onion, garlic, pepper; kale; canned tomato and tomato paste (may contain *corn); chile powder, thyme, oregano, *cumin, sugar, pepper

  *Spicy Eggplant with Garbanzo Beans

  *Garbanzo beans; oil; *cumin and fennel seed; potato, eggplant, onion, tomato paste, cilantro

  *Tuscan Chickpea and and Tomato Stew

  *Chickpeas; oil

  *Tex Mex Vegetables

  Zucchini, squash, eggplant, red and green pepper, onion; *cumin; oil; chile powder, garlic, cinnamon, salt, pepper

  *Vegetarian Mexican Pozole

  *Hominy; *kidney beans; *corn; zucchini; chiles, garlic, apple cider vinegar, *cumin, oregano, salt, sugar, spice clove, oil, onion

  *Turmeric Rice Pilaf

  *Rice, turmeric, lemon juice, oil, vegetable broth (might contain *corn), garlic, onion, pepper, lime juice, cilantro

  *Vegetarian/Vegan Paella

  *Green beans; *lima beans; *rice; *peas; white cooking wine, olive oil, onion, pepper, tomato, salt and pepper, oregano, paprika, turmeric, garlic, artichoke