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Fellowship, cheer abound in Muslim-Christian celebration Photos: ANTHONY CHAN
Representatives of the Catholic and Muslim faiths at the joint Hari Raya-Christmas celebration on Dec 27. From left: Vicar General Monsignor Eugene Vaz; Mr Maarof Salleh, president of the Islamic Religious Author ity Of Singapore; Archbishop Nicholas Chia and Mufti of Singapore, Mufti Syed Isa bin Mohd Semait.
IT WAS a wet and rainy evening on Dec 27. But inside the Singgahsana Hall of the Malay Village in Geylang Serai, fello w sh ip and cheer abounded as Muslims and Catholics greeted one another warmly. The special dinner, w hich brought together some 300 mem bers of the Muslism and Christian communities, is believed to be the first-ever joint celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Christmas in Singapore. Also present were members of the Inter-Religious Organisation. The event, the fourth in a series of Christian-Muslim dialogue sessions which started in April last year, aimed to create a deeper sense of fellowship, understanding and collaboration be tween members of both faiths. And this desire was amply dem onstrated in the warm speeches given
by Archbishop Nicholas Chia, head of the Catholic Church in Singapore and Mr Maarof Salleh, president of the Islamic Religious Authority Of Sin gapore (MUIS); the exchange of gifts between Archbishop Chia, Mr Maarof and the Mufti of Singapore, Mufti Syed Isa bin Mohd Semait; the prayers prayed and the musical performances put on by both communities. Canossian Sister Theresa Seow, an organiser of the event, shared with the crowd that the dinner was not a response to the Sep 11 terrorist attacks, but the crisis “has deepened our resolve to work at a relationship already begun”. “It is important to dialogue, pray and learn from each other during good times,” she stressed. “When relationships have been established, it is easier to clarify when doubt arises... No one is expected to com
promise his faith. No religions are the same and for this reason we need to dialogue.” She said it is hoped the joint celebration will open more avenues for dialogue and collaboration, and create opportunities for Muslims and Christians “to rejoice when we rec ognise similarities in our beliefs and to learn to celebrate even our differ ences”. Agreeing with Sr Theresa, MUIS president Maarof Salleh said, “We cannot make all religions into one. This is a very fundamental teaching of Islam. God mentioned in the Holy Koran that He has created men of different kinds, different groups. So they have to get together to know each other and to build fellowship.” • Continued on Page 13
Archbishop Chia presenting a gift of a model ship to Mr Maarof Salleh (above) symbolising a journey of inter-religious dialogue and collabora tion, and the Holy Bible to Mufti Syed Isa bin Mohd Semait (below). He received, in return, books on Islam and Muslims in Singapore.