Senior students from Al Faisal Islamic college in western Sydney say they have gained invaluable insights into the shared values of Muslims and Catholics following a visit to the city’s St Mary’s Cathedral. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
The 23 Year 11 students visited the cathedral earlier this month as part of their studies on Christianity in the HSC course, Studies of Religion
It is the first year the Muslim college is undertaking the HSC course that will provide students with an in-depth study into Christianity, including the life of Jesus Christ and Christian beliefs and practices.
In their cathedral tour, the students learned about Catholic liturgy, the sacraments, the place of sainthood in the Catholic Church and the tradition of liturgical singing.
Al Faisal College’s executive principal Safia Khan-Hassanein said the students and staff benefited greatly from the cathedral tour.
“It was a significant and enriching experience and we greatly appreciate the warm welcome that was extended to our staff and students,” Mrs Khan-Hassanein said.
“The Studies of Religion course has become a powerful avenue for fostering reflection, dialogue and interfaith understanding.
“Our students are currently exploring the Abrahamic faiths and during their visit they were able to see first-hand how the values and teachings within Christianity resonate deeply with Islamic principles – particularly in areas such as reverence, community, service and the presence of God.”
Sr Giovanni Farquer RSJ, executive director of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Relations, spoke with the students about her work in interfaith dialogue over the past two decades.
Mrs Khan-Hassanein said her insights were invaluable.
“Sr Farquer’s reflections on interfaith friendship and her wisdom left a lasting impression on our students and we are sincerely appreciative of the time she dedicated to sharing her experiences and beliefs,” she added.
“The students expressed how precious it was to meet her and how meaningful it was to be engaged in conversations that highlighted not differences, but shared values.”
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Muslim students impressed by cathedral visit (By Michael Kenny, The Catholic Weekly)
