Justice Week Theme: Embracing Ishmael

January 29, 2018

Cretin-Derham Hall will host Justice Week 2018 with a full slate of speakers and activities to inform, educate, and challenge our community to better understand the misinformation and stereotypes in our community relating to our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Drawing upon the founders of CDH, the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Christian Brothers, who firmly believe education has the power to change social issues and address injustice, Justice Week has been thoroughly exploring complex issues for the past 17 years.

This special week will be an opportunity to grow as a people of God. Going back to the beginning of the Judeo-Christian faith, Abraham and Hagar were parents of Ishmael, whose descendants are Muslims today. Therefore, by “Embracing Ishmael,” we hope to continue to seek God, whose grace is active among Catholics and Muslims.

The week will begin on February 5 with an Opening Assembly, featuring keynote speaker Ryan Harris'03, a devout Muslim, Notre Dame graduate, and football Super Bowl champion (Denver Broncos, 2016).

In speaking of his faith, Ryan has said, “I think the best thing I can do as a Muslim is just be Muslim and be around other non-Muslims, especially in a time like this when there’s a lot of propaganda and lot of xenophobia [fear]. For me, I make sure that I get involved with the youth and in the communities that I’m in. It’s not about just doing events; it’s also about being at prayers and being a resource for kids when they have any questions.”

The week will include various speakers and opportunities for discussion.  Speakers from the metro Muslim community will speak on the Four Pillars of Islam, Muslims in Minnesota, Women in Islam, and War and Islam.  Students will also have a chance to learn and practice skills to address bias and assumptions about Muslims in our community.

A highlight of the week—the Youth Justice Summit—will be on February 7. Cretin-Derham Hall invites other Catholic high school students in the area to join the discussions for the day. Students will be able to attend speakers' sessions and enjoy Empty Bowls, as well as meet in school work groups to discuss action plans and initiatives for their respective schools.

In addition, the broader CDH community is invited to attend the Empty Bowls fundraiser during both lunch and dinner to raise awareness and funds for Heifer International, a non-profit dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty.

Past CDH Justice Week topics have included Human Trafficking in Minnesota, Water Justice, Civil Rights, JustArt and Gender Equity.

Parents are invited to attend these sessions.