Interfaith Dialogues at Fisher
St. John Fisher University has had a long commitment to promoting an inclusive campus where all feel a sense of belonging. One of the efforts the University has made is implementing Interfaith Lunch and Discussions, hosted by the Office of Campus Ministry.
“The Interfaith Lunch and Discussions are about learning about the various faith traditions that are expressed on campus and the impact they have on how college students, faculty, and staff live their lives,” according to Sarah Mancini-Goebert, assistant director of the Office of Campus Ministry.
The Bridging the Gap: Bridgebuilding Fellows initiative works beyond the subject of faith—it is about learning the skills to navigate oneself as an individual and how to respect differences among others. Campus Ministry received a grant through Interfaith America, founded by Dr. Eboo Patel, to teach a dialogue curriculum titled “Bridging the Gap.”
The grant has allowed the University to name seven students as Bridgebuilding Fellows: Jaenid Ayala, Nessa Ashkar (absent from photo), Lily Tripp, Alana Crittenden, Bella Schifino, Jade Stewart, and Alex Slater.
Tripp, Crittenden, Schifino, Stewart, and Slater are first-year students that were recommended by their learning community professors: Dr. Cassandra Scherr, Dr. Jonathan Shelley, Dr. Fr. George Smith, Dr. Anthony Siracusa, and Dr. Ricky Price. They were recommended because of their exhibited ability to navigate conversations and willingness to participate in class.
Ayala attended the Interfaith America Leadership Summit with the Office of Campus Ministry over the summer and is the interfaith student leader for the Campus Ministry leadership team.
Ashkar is a first-year student who has been committed to the work of the Interfaith Council. Mancini-Goebert says Ashkar has shown great leadership skills in leading the lunch discussions and helping to articulate the work of the council. “These students are working with me through the curriculum on the skills needed to reflect on our various identities that define who we are, the skills necessary to navigate conversations—especially ones that are difficult and uncomfortable—and how to share your story with others to create understanding, trust, and build relationships,” Mancini-Goebert said. She added that the learning community professors, along with members of the administration, have been meeting to discuss ways to integrate these skills into their classes.
According to Mancini-Goebert, this initiative was sought after because during the Interfaith Lunch and Discussions, students expressed their desire to have a space to navigate conflict and learn more about themselves and their peers in the hopes of engaging in meaningful dialogue. “When we take the time to sit and listen to someone and their story, we break down the barriers of assumptions and misinformation and hopefully create belonging and community,” she said.
During the Interfaith Lunch and Discussions, the students can be observed reflecting on challenges they have experienced in a judgement-free environment. Mancini-Goebert poses discussion questions that encourage critical thinking, offering follow-up questions to allow students to dig deeper into their personal experiences.
The students do not solely engage with Mancini-Goebert, but often with each other. They are active listeners and are comfortable with facilitating the conversation on their own. Though they come from different religious backgrounds, they discuss their experiences together to understand themselves internally and navigate through challenges, both past and present.
The seven fellowship leaders recognize that religion is a different experience for every individual and actively avoid any generalizations during their discussions. Their dialogues focus on subjects of open-mindedness, emotional awareness, community, advocacy, internal navigation, and mutual respect and understanding.
The Office of Campus Ministry has been involved with Interfaith America since 2019. Since then, they have been exploring ways they can continue to support the Catholic heritage of the University while simultaneously supporting the various faith traditions and needs of students.
“Students are fortunate to attend a university where there is an office that supports them and is a resource for students to live that while pursuing their academic degree,” Mancini-Goebert said.
This article was written by Brooke Eastman, a senior media and communication major. Eastman currently works in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the spring 2025 semester.