Muslim Visit To
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church
March 22nd 2002

Arguably the first time in Australia, a group of 40 ordinary Muslims have visited a Christian church, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (a catholic church in Greystanes Sydney), on 2nd of March 2002. The visit coincided with the Muslim celebrations of Eid-ul Adha featuring the time of pilgrimage to Mecca and remembrance of Prophet Abraham as the common point in religious history where the three monotheistic faiths Judaism, Christianity and Islam meet.

This significant visit was filmed by ABC TV and featured in the Compass "Encounters with Islam" program, which was aired on April the 21st. The visit was also a return visit in response to an earlier visit by Our Lady Queen of Peace Church expressing its solidarity with the local Muslim community in the aftermath of September the 11th events. The visit consisted of an information session in the main church. Fr Gerry Iverson, Fr Peter Confeggi and other church officials have informed Muslim guests on Christian beliefs and practices as well as the architecture and history of the church. This was followed by a prayer and social interaction around a magnificent lunch banquet.