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Ramadan and Lent begin together in Rhineland-Palatinate this week

Two sacred seasons converge as mosques and churches open their doors for shared meals and prayers. Discover how faith unites a region in discipline and compassion.

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3 min read
The image shows a group of people sitting around a long table, enjoying a meal together. On the...
The image shows a group of people sitting around a long table, enjoying a meal together. On the table are plates, glasses, and other objects, and at the bottom of the image is text that reads "Supper as given at the Pantheon, by the Knights of the Bath, on the 26th of May 1788".

Time for Reflection: Lent and Ramadan Begin - Ramadan and Lent begin together in Rhineland-Palatinate this week

Lent and Ramadan Begin This Week in Rhineland-Palatinate: What Christians and Muslims Share

For Christians in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day Lenten season leading up to Easter. Muslims, too, will begin their holy month of Ramadan this week. What do these two traditions have in common?

With prayers and services, Christians enter the Lenten period on Ash Wednesday, culminating at Easter. This year, the season largely overlaps with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan—until March 19, Muslims will abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. Here's how believers of both faiths in Rhineland-Palatinate are observing the season:

Finding Shared Values Through Family Fasting

For Catholic Christians, the focus lies on meditation, church services, digital reflections, and fasting initiatives. This year, the central Lenten campaign by the Catholic relief organization Misereor aims to support vocational training in Cameroon. The initiative will be launched on February 22 with a service in the Diocese of Limburg, broadcast live on ARD starting at 10:00 AM.

As part of the "7 Weeks of Value" campaign, couples and families can register to receive weekly letters containing service outlines, activities, prayers, or meditations designed to help participants explore shared values. The program is organized by the Catholic Family Education Association (AKF). In the Dillingen area of Saarland, a digital offering provides daily WhatsApp messages to guide believers through Lent.

Lenten Sermons at Maria Laach Abbey

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-President Christian Wulff (both CDU) will deliver Lenten sermons at Maria Laach Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. Merkel will speak on March 4, followed by Wulff two weeks later on March 18. Over the coming weeks, seven sermons will be held, each Wednesday at 5:30 PM, accompanied by organ music.

The "Climate Fast" initiative—led by the Center for Education and Society of the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, the Diocese of Mainz, and the Protestant Deanery of Mainz—offers guidance on how individuals can adjust their daily lives to benefit the climate and promote a more just world. The program includes readings and an ecumenical fasting group that meets weekly online.

Protestant Lenten Campaign: Seven Weeks Without Harshness

Rieke Eulenstein of the Protestant Church District on the Saar describes Lent as an opportunity to break from routine and reassess priorities—whether by giving up driving, smartphones, plastic, caffeine, or tobacco.

For Protestant Christians, the central Lenten campaign "Seven Weeks Without" runs under this year's theme: "With Feeling! Seven Weeks Without Harshness." Wall and desk calendars provide daily inspirations. On March 6, the Campus Congregation of Kaiserslautern & Homburg/Saar will host an interfaith prayer for peace, with a special focus on Syria.

Mosques Become Hubs of Community During Ramadan

"During Ramadan, our mosque becomes a central place of encounter," says Imam Safa Sarac of the IGMG Barbaros Mosque in Mainz. Every evening, people gather to break their fast together after abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Imam Sarac explains that the month is about reconnecting with one's inner faith and Allah. The fast-breaking meal, or iftar, is open to all—students, workers, and anyone else. Throughout Ramadan, the mosque also collects donations for those in need worldwide.

Inviting neighbors, friends, and curious guests to share in the iftar is a long-standing tradition, Imam Sarac notes. "This is how our Prophet did it." He emphasizes that Ramadan is not just about abstinence but also about social responsibility. "Ramadan should cultivate patience, respect, helpfulness, and solidarity among Muslims, fostering inner peace and strengthening community bonds—much like the Christian Lenten season."

Interfaith Fast-Breaking Now a Tradition

"All state associations of Muslim communities and many local mosques invite church representatives to join them for iftar. This has become a tradition in Rhineland-Palatinate," says Miguel Vicente, the state government's integration commissioner.

A few years ago, the holy month of Ramadan was far less present in the minds of state and local politicians. That has changed. "I see this as an important and positive development," says Vicente. Many Muslims view the iftar meals shared with invited officials as a sign of recognition and respect.

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