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 Australia’s “mother church,” St Mary’s Cathedral.
The 23 Year 11 students undertook a tour of the cathedral in April 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 which will provide students with an in-depth study into Christianity including the life of Jesus Christ and Christian beliefs and practices.
The college has four K-12 campuses in Auburn, Campbelltown, Liverpool and Lakemba.
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, Mrs 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,” she 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.”
The Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Religious Relations, Sr Giovanni Farquer RSJ spoke with the students about her work in interfaith dialogue over the past two decades.
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.”
Lala, one of the senior students, said it was a wonderful experience.
“I had never visited a cathedral or a church before, so this excursion was incredibly exciting,” she said.
“We had already learned about the importance of the pope and archbishops during class and on the excursion the guide led us down into the crypt where we saw the graves of colonial priests and archbishops of Sydney.”
“We were also able to see the confessionals and the baptismal font which reinforced what we had learned about the emphasis Christianity places on salvation, as it is one of the central beliefs in the faith,” she added.
“This excursion was incredibly enjoyable as it opened my eyes to the significance of places of worship in the study of religion.”
Another student Maryum said the visit greatly enhanced her understanding of Christianity.
“We learned more about the principal beliefs and ethical teachings and how these continue to guide adherents today,” she said.
“We learned about the biblical accounts depicted in the stained-glass windows and paintings, including the depictions of Adam and Eve, Jesus and the Virgin Mary.”