Cosponsored with Dialogue Institute of Kansas City

“O Mary, truly God has chosen thee and purified thee, and has chosen thee above the women of the worlds. O Mary!”

Does it surprise you that the quote above comes not from the New Testament, but from the Quran, the holy book of Islam?

Islam has a long tradition of reverence for Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In fact, Mary is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur’an, which has an entire chapter named after her (Sura 19, “Maryam”).

Because of this shared devotion, Mary has been called “an interreligious bridge” for Christians and Muslims. What can we learn from each other through this shared devotion?

To celebrate our shared devotion to Mary, Precious Blood Renewal Center and the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City are hosting the program “Mother Mary in Catholicism and Islam” Nov. 5, 6-8:30 p.m. with presentations by Muslim and Catholic scholars.

Our Speakers

Sandy Gagnon served as Director of Adult Initiation at St. James Catholic Church in Liberty, Missouri, for 28 years, retiring just this summer. She earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University-New Orleans and a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Missouri. She taught microbiology and chemistry at Penn Valley Community College until her retirement in 2009. Currently she continues her ministry as a spiritual director and facilitator of two small faith communities.

Mahnaz Shabbir is president of Shabbir Advisors, a Kansas City-based integrated strategic management consulting company, and she lectures, locally, nationally and internationally on diversity issues. For 18 years, she worked as a vice president for Carondelet Health, a Catholic health care system in Kansas City. Mahnaz co-authored the chapter on Islam in The Essential Guide to Religious Traditions and Spirituality for Health Care Providers published in 2013. Her essay “I am an American Muslim Woman,” was published in the Kansas City Star in 2002 and has since been reprinted widely.

Also of Interest:

Cardinal Blasé Cupich of Chicago wrote in America magazine: “Like Catholics, Muslims believe Mary to be pure, courageous and faithful. They also believe that she was free from sin. The Quran calls her an example for believers, a woman of truth, a sign for all peoples and chosen above all women.” Read the cardinal’s full article: How Mary can be a bridge between Christians and Muslims.

Another article you might want to read is: What Islam really teaches about the Virgin Mary.