Students, faculty, staff and friends of all faiths joined together at sundown during Ramadan to share a meal and each other’s company.

St. Stephen’s recently held its first-ever Iftar Community Dinner during the Islamic holy season of Ramadan. Students, faculty, staff and friends were invited to gather with our Muslim students in the Student Center at sundown to break their Ramadan fast. It is a significant time for Muslims to connect and enjoy food together, and happens daily during Ramadan. Head Chaplain Rev. Aimée Eyer-Delevett and Director of Equity and Inclusion Marsha Elliott catered the authentic and traditional Middle Eastern meal that included dates, rice, hummus, meat and vegetables. 

Rev. Eyer-Delevett opened the meal with a prayer from the National Association of Episcopal Schools, saying in part, “We celebrate before you the people of Islam, our Muslim brothers and sisters who witness to us the oneness of God.”

As Riddhima Singh ’25, a boarding student from Saudi Arabia, sat down to enjoy her meal she said with a smile, “It smells like home.” Singh said she attended several Iftars while home over Spring Break, and she enjoyed being able to experience the special moment at school while surrounded by friends who are not Muslim. 

Muslim boarding student Ali Al-Ajmi ’26, who is from Oman, invited his good friend, Jamaican boarding student Izzy Stiebel ’26 to the feast for Stiebel’s first Iftar. 

“This experience is great,” said Stiebel. “It’s nice to get a little bit of Ali’s culture. [Our friendship has] been a nice exchange of culture." The two became fast friends this school year after arriving on The Hill. 

Singh said she appreciates all that Rev. Aimée does to introduce Spartans to various cultures through Chapel and events like Iftar and Holi, which helps her feel more at home and valued on campus.

Rev. Eyer-Delevett invited several other members of the Austin community from Oman to the Iftar, including Sami Al Azri who recently graduated from Penn State University and just started an engineering job in the city. While he’s participated in many Iftars, this was the first time Al Azri has been part of one with people outside of the Islamic faith.

“I’m happy to share this moment even with people who aren’t fasting,” said Al Azri. “Just to sit down and have a conversation...that gives me the same satisfaction as if I was with family or anyone else.”

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. For Muslims it is as an act of worship, spiritual purification, and to cultivate reverence and empathy for those less fortunate, while also practicing self-restraint and focusing on spiritual growth. 

At the heart of the Episcopal tradition lies a deep commitment to seeking and serving God in all people and respecting the dignity of every human being. These commitments call us to create an environment where all individuals, regardless of their faith or background, can feel seen, heard, and valued. As an Episcopal institution, we recognize that this includes providing the opportunity for Muslim people in our community to express their spirituality and participate in their religious practices as they may feel called, such as the five daily prayers. 

New Campus Prayer Space

Celebrating Ramadan also gave the school a chance to welcome the community into its new designated prayer space in the Chapel. With the help of Chaplain Usama Malik from Muslim Space, Head Chaplain Aimée Eyer-Delevett and Muslim student representatives have created a quiet, respectful, and accessible environment for those who wish to practice their faith following Islamic traditions. The space and prayer tools provided are also available to all members of the SSES community, regardless of religious affiliation, who wish to deepen their spiritual practices.

“The Chapel, a place for prayer and reflection for all members of our school community, is the perfect setting to further our commitment to fostering mutual respect and understanding among diverse faith traditions as we continue to embrace the values of empathy and inclusivity that define our school,” said Rev. Eyer-Delevett.

The prayer space, located behind the altar at the front of the Chapel, is marked by an area rug to keep it free from chairs and other objects. Six prayer mats and six prayer beads are provided in a nearby basket. The direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah is marked by a Qiblah so that Muslim prayer practitioners can identify the direction in which to pray. Those wishing to use the mats or beads for prayer or meditation are welcome to do so respectfully. 

“We are excited to offer this space and look forward to its positive impact on our community,” said Eyer-Delevett.