Working at a private Catholic university with wide religious diversity, campus ministry officials face the difficult task of addressing the holiday season.

There is no official policy dictating that St. Edward’s University officials must only address Christmas or that they must be sure to include other winter holidays.

“The practice is to celebrate all the holidays,” the Rev. Peter Walsh, director of Campus Ministry, said.

Campus Ministry’s main celebration during the winter is the Festival of Lights, which is more of a holiday celebration, Walsh said. The university also puts on a Christmas party for faculty members every year.

“Part of the reality of St. Ed’s is there is an intentional decision to make the campus globally aware,” Walsh said. “Therefore, different religious groups that are present are given a certain welcome and inclusion.”

Walsh considers St. Edward’s a university that respects and honors other cultures but recognizes its Holy Cross heritage and 50 percent Catholic student body.

“We don’t discourage the celebration of Christmas,” Walsh said.

Although St. Edward’s has a relatively high Catholic population, it is slight compared to St. Mary’s University’s 70 percent and Notre Dame University’s 83 percent Catholic population.

Associate Director of Campus Ministry James Puglisi had a similar outlook on the university’s openness to other cultures.

“We’re not a bells and whistles campus,” Puglisi said. “We’re always trying to figure out what’s the best way to be respectful of our religious diversity.”

Jackie Schicker, sophomore and president of the Hillel Toppers, is a member of the Jewish community at St. Edward’s.

“There are only 70 of us on campus,” Schicker said. “I see a Jew once a week.”

Despite being a minority, Schicker feels welcome at St. Edward’s. She is pleased by the general interest in her religion shown by her peers of different backgrounds.

“If I felt left out, I wouldn’t be here,” Schicker said.

But what if she were to receive a ‘Merry Christmas’ card from the university?

“I wouldn’t be offended, but I might respond,” Schicker said.

As a member of an even smaller minority on campus, sophomore Krupali Laxmidas is a Gujarati Hindu. While she does not officially celebrate it, Laxmidas is a big fan of Christmas and even gave her teachers Christmas gifts as a child.

“I don’t find anything wrong with it,” Laxmidas said. “We [Hindus] are very tolerating of other cultures, we don’t try to force our [religion] on anyone.”

Laxmidas’ mother even encourages her to attend Catholic mass while studying at St. Edward’s to learn about the faith.

While she wishes there were more of a Hindu presence on campus, Laxmidas, who lived in Zimbabwe for eight years and whose family is originally from India, is happy at St. Edward’s.

“At this school, they let you do other things, if you want to start another group you can,” she said.

Aware of the religious diversity, Walsh is optimistic about how non-Christian students feel during the holiday season.

“There might be some who feel left out because they’re not Christian…but I think most people don’t mind,” Walsh said. “I don’t mind being wished Happy Hanukkah.”