The Multifaith Picnic with the President featured speeches from University President Tania Tetlow and Campus Ministry leaders, student performances, activities, food and more on the Outdoor Plaza on Sep. 3 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
As the fourth annual iteration, this year’s event centered around community building. Erin Hoffman, director of Campus Ministry, said this mission inspired a slight shift in focus from formal prayer to student engagement.
“(We) really put more energy into the picnic portion this year, making it an experience not just of hearing from people, but then having opportunities to interact, to do activities, to talk to people, to get to know people … So our goal in the end was really to create and celebrate not just community at Fordham, but meaningful community,” Hoffman said.
Formerly known as the Interfaith Picnic and Prayer, Hoffman said she and the other organizers decided to use the word “multifaith” rather than “interfaith” to highlight how Fordham brings together different faiths in community, embracing their differences rather than trying to solve them.
“Multifaith is different than interfaith because in interfaith, (we) can come together and learn from one another and share the space together, but multifaith really allows for the authenticity of each tradition to be celebrated and showcased.” Erin Hoffman, Director of Campus Ministry
Hoffman also said this shift was inspired by the additions of full-time Muslim and Jewish staff last year, and said she hopes “one day in the future, we will be able to have more.”
“Multifaith is different than interfaith because in interfaith, (we) can come together and learn from one another and share the space together, but multifaith really allows for the authenticity of each tradition to be celebrated and showcased,” Hoffman said.
The weather was a warm and breezy 77 degrees as students arrived on the plaza for the picnic. The first 250 claimed a free picnic blanket.
There were club tables dotted around the space offering various activities. The Islamic Arts and Henna club gave free henna designs to attendees and the Muslim Student Association passed out free hijabs, Qurans and kufis. Also in attendance were two other clubs: the Catholic Student Fellowship and the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship.
Maya Zhorov, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27, said she was very happy with this year’s activities and organization.
“I love it. It was planned so well. Yeah. The food — all the vendors and everything — and the jazz — the jazz was a really good part,” Zhorov said.
Simrath Parmar, FCLC ’26, and president of Desi Chai, a cultural club celebrating Desi culture, said she wished the multifaith picnic featured a bit more representation for Sikhism, her religion. Sikhism, which originated in the Punjab region of India, follows the teachings of the ten Gurus in service of one God, the Creator.
Former iterations of the event featured a Sikh prayer, which Parmar delivered.
“I do sometimes think it does center around Abrahamic religion … The first three years, it was a little bit of a different setup. I did the Sikh prayer, which was great. I loved having that. I hope someone else can do that next year. But yeah, a little bit more inclusivity sometimes, especially hearing more about my religion, which is not Abrahamic,” Parmar said.
In another corner of the plaza, the Office of Mission Integration and Ministry offered a five-minute service project assembling school supplies with a note of affirmation for local public schools, and there was a group yoga session at 5 p.m.
As students weaved between tables, the Fordham Jazz Ensemble played and a few Fordham students gave faith-centered performances of song and dance.
“Dream big, discover and follow what makes your heart sing … make space in your life for the things that matter to you (family, friends, love, generosity, fun and joy) … And work hard.” Rabbi Katja Vehlow, Director of Jewish Life
Prior to the performances on a small stage constructed on the Plaza, Hoffman delivered an introductory speech followed by addresses from Tetlow and multifaith messages from the directors of Jewish, Catholic and Muslim Life.
Rabbi Katja Vehlow, director of Jewish Life, spoke of the four suggestions she has for students going into the new school year.
“Dream big, discover and follow what makes your heart sing … make space in your life for the things that matter to you (family, friends, love, generosity, fun and joy) … And work hard,” Vehlow said.
Imam Ammar Abdul Rahman, director of Muslim Life, asked students to engage in a “fundamental shift in perception” away from the anxieties of everyday life and toward the blessings and gifts that one has.
“Let’s choose to practice gratitude for the gifts that we’ve been given. Let’s approach every interaction with a heart open to knowing and being known by others. And most importantly, let’s choose to be each other’s keeper, fight for justice and spread peace,” Rahman said.
Rahman concluded his speech by asking students to turn to each other and say, “May peace be unto you.”
Tetlow gave the final speech before turning the floor over to Father Philip Judge, executive director of Campus Ministry, for a group prayer. Tetlow’s address focused on the power of community as a transformative and unifying force.
“I hope you use this time at the beginning of the academic year … to really take stock of who you want to be. And that’s not just an individual question because who you are is all about how you treat others,” Tetlow said. “Whatever you are studying, wherever you come from in the world, wherever you personally find your own strength and grace that I hope you find in the Fordham community, the overwhelming love of God and of each other.”
This year’s multifaith picnic brought students of all faiths together to learn from one another and, most importantly, to simply have fun — celebrating community in its most genuine form.
