Growing up in a western suburb of Chicago, in a primarily Catholic household, I have always had a deep appreciation and love for my Guatemalan roots and a desire to help the people in my community. My upbringing and culture serve as means of inspiration as I take steps toward pursuing a career as a bilingual development psychologist.
My greatest hope for my career is to break down the cultural barriers that prevent my community in accessing the care and resources they need to take care of their mental health and lead healthier and happier lives. Given my faith background, I grew up learning the values of inclusivity and developed a great sense of curiosity in wanting to understand the perspectives of people from different cultural and religious backgrounds. This has led me to become an Interfaith Intern in University Ministry at Dominican University. I have the privilege and pleasure of connecting with people from different faith traditions on a daily basis. Part of my work consists of becoming a leader who embodies the four pillars of the Dominican Spirit: Community, Prayer, Service, and Study. The four pillars are centered on the integration of faith and knowledge, endorsing the importance of the individual, and a devotion to the common good. My mission as an Interfaith leader is to create an inclusive interfaith community and to engage in various religious, spiritual, and value-based ideologies through collaboration, dialogue, reflection, and study.
Prior to my work in University Ministry, the term “Interfaith” was quite unknown to me. I had no idea what it meant or what it encompassed. However, through engaging in meaningful conversations with other interns and with my mentors, I have come to understand that Interfaith is dynamic. It invites us to discover something new and recognize our commonalities. Interfaith, to me, is a pathway that has enabled me to travel along my faith journey in ways that I had not considered before. It has allowed me to form relationships, ask questions, and better understand those who come from different faiths other than my own. This journey has become a rewarding experience and has opened up opportunities for deeper reflection and even moments of unexpected joy.
An Interfaith experience that greatly impacted me was when I attended my first Iftar at a local mosque near my university at the end of Ramadan last year. From the moment I stepped foot inside the mosque, I felt the serene atmosphere it exuded. I had the chance to witness the vibrant, mesmerizing mosaic and intricate design work along the walls and ceilings. As I entered the prayer hall, I was welcomed by the women who were present along with their small children. As a non-Muslim woman, I felt like an intruder at first, but the women were so kind in welcoming me and explaining to me the way an Iftar works as we shared stories and questions. We shared a delicious meal, which was so filling and flavorful. What resonated with me the most was the reverence and piety I saw among the women as they prayed. I was moved and humbled. Being welcomed into the mosque was an experience that I will never forget. It showed me that while our religions may be different, there is more that unites us than divides us. It was this work that prompted me to further my knowledge and work in Interfaith as I joined the BILI Launchpad fellowship in 2022.
During the program, I was given the opportunity to learn and explore more about Interfaith by attending Interfaith America’s Interfaith Leadership Summit in August of 2022. This summit is one of the largest gatherings of students and educators who are dedicated to building a more religiously diverse society. Throughout my time at the event, I was able to step out of my comfort zone and engage in interreligious dialogue with other students from other universities across the country. Our discussions involved how students, like myself, can engage with their campus communities in the theory and practice of interreligious advocacy. The skills I gained at the summit, motivated me to build upon my interreligious leadership.
Being part of the BILI program has been a unique experience that has drastically changed my view of what Interfaith is and how important it is to establish interfaith dialogue in our communities. Due to the growing religious diversity in our country and local communities, interfaith dialogue is an important task that should be addressed.
Throughout our collective history, we have unfortunately seen how religion can be exploited for the purpose of division. I believe it is important for us to use interfaith dialogue as a way to foster understanding and work together towards a resolution to difficult situations. We must keep in mind that religion is one of the most influential and powerful tools of our society and the effects it has can have consequences that reach far beyond ourselves. It is up to us to work towards making the world a better place through productive dialogues and cooperative efforts.
In today’s global society, interfaith dialogue has proven to be an essential tool in bringing people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs together. The goals of Interfaith are: mutual understanding, dialogue, and providing a space for constructive, challenging conversations that promote peaceful resolution to the conflicts we face. It is important to ensure that our dialogues seek to benefit the collective, rather than reinforcing pre-existing power dynamics or harmful divisions. It is crucial that we each take steps to actively listen, be open to sharing stories of faith and spiritual experiences with others, and foster a space for dialogue where we can respectfully ask questions. By doing this, we can make a real difference for the common good of our world.