With the coming of Christmas fast approcahing, Affinity executive members and various members of the Muslim community, once again set out to visit Catherdals and Churches around Sydney and Wollongong, which is now become a yearly tradition.
For over 6 years, Affinity has taken the intiative of visting places of worship during the most sacred time for our Christian friends, Christmas and Easter.Affinity views these visits as a great way to establishing dialogue and long lasting relationships with others. Affinity President Mr Mehmet Saral stated that ‘it is important to go beyond dialogue and pay respects to each other's faith tradition by visiting each other during special times such as Christmas’.
On Christmas Eve for Midnight Mass, we visited Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral in Waitara where Bishop David Walker welcomed 15 members of the Muslim community to the Cathedral as well as St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Wollongong where Bishop Peter Ingham welcomed 8 members of the Muslim community to the Cathedral.
During Christmas Day, we attended Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta where Bishop Anthony Fisher welcomed 10 members of the Muslim community to the Cathedral and the beautiful St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney where Cardinal George Pell welcomed 10 members of the Muslim community to the Cathedral. We also attended service at the Uniting Church on the Mall in Wollongong where Rev Gordon Bradberry welcomed 10 members of the Muslim community to the Parish. All in all, over 50 Muslims attended 5 churches across Christmas.
It was a great pleasure to be able to attend such services that mean so much to around 70% of Australia’s population. Affinity would like to thank all churches and the respective Cathedral Bishop’s and Parish Ministers for opening their doors and hearts to the Muslim community and making us feel welcome.
Rahile Ansari
