On Thursday evening, 30 March, Charles Sturt University, in partnership with the Mid-North Coast Muslim Association (MiCMA), hosted a Community Iftar dinner at Rydes in Port Macquarie.

This occurred during a rare opportunity when our Christian season of Lent overlapped with Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

This special night of good food and conversation involved a MiCMA member sharing about the importance of Ramadan as a spiritual exercise in growing closer to Allah (God).

Mr Shane Hyland, Leader of Evangelisation at St Joseph’s Regional College (and member of the Parish Pastoral Renewal team), then shared about the significance of Lent for us as Catholic Christians.

There were so many overlaps between the Islamic and Christian observances. The group was even treated to a sacred recitation from the Qur’an from a local Imam followed by the call to prayer as many from the Muslim Community moved to a room for prayer at sunset as their fast ended before a feast of a beautiful assortment of traditional Middle-Eastern foods.

Several Parishioners attended the event as well as representatives from St Joseph’s Regional College and MacKillop College.

Those who attended said it was a pleasure to attend, to join in conversations with community members, and to build connections between other local Christian churches and our local Islamic Community.