The past week has been InterFaith Week (15th-21st November), when people of all faiths and beliefs are encouraged to strengthen inter faith relationships and develop a wider understanding of each others’ beliefs.
St Chrysostom’s Parish is fortunate to be full of diversity, with many faiths and backgrounds represented – there is a wonderful mix of people who contribute to making the area so richly varied.
At both of our Church schools, St John’s and St Chrysostom’s, children are strongly encouraged to celebrate diversity and the gifts of all faiths and to work together towards understanding each other and buidling a better world for us all.
During Inter Faith Week, some children, mainly of Islamic faith, from St John’s School came to visit Church and learn about Christian symbols and the way that Christians worship, thinking about some similarities and differences between how Christians and Muslims pray.
Regularly a group from Church meets with a group of Muslim friends for an informal meal where we can chat and learn from each other about our faith and prayer. We have visited each other’s places of worship. This is always a wonderful occassion – the next meal will be on Manchester’s Curry Mile on 3rd December.
Both of these examples are things to celebrate in Inter Faith week and beyond, stregthening understanding of each other and higlighting the positive impact of faith in buidling community.