Kuching, Oct 26, 2007 / 11:24 am (CNA).- A Muslim group’s recent visit to a Catholic Church in Malaysia is being called a breakthrough in grassroots interreligious dialogue.
On October 14, ten Muslims sat in the pews at Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Kuching. Several Church sources told UCA News they were sure this had not happened in the history of the Archdiocese of Kuching and had not heard of it happening anywhere else in Malaysia either.
Malaysia is a majority-Muslim country. Out of a population of 26 million people, 60 percent are Muslim, 19 percent are Buddhist, 9 percent are Christians and 6 percent are Hindu.
Christians and Muslims commonly believe that Muslims are forbidden even to enter a church. Led by Shah Kirit Kakakul Govindji of the Islamic Information and Services Foundation, the Muslim visitors initiated the visit themselves. Shah Kirit explained that the purpose of the visit was to discover similarities and common traditions shared by Muslims and Christians, and to respectfully “agree to disagree” on differences.
Archbishop John Ha Tiong Hock of Kuching supported the visit.
After Mass the parish priest invited the visitors and the parish council to breakfast and a session of interreligious dialogue. The Muslim visitors asked about the various denominations of Christianity, training for the Catholic priesthood, the Church’s ministries and apostolic work, and Christ’s Second Coming.
One parish council member said the meeting created “a sense of amazement.”
At the request of the parish, Shah Kirit promised to send them English-language copies of the Qu’ran. The two groups have discussed a reciprocal visit by Catholics to a mosque.
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FAIR 2007
(PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTER, KUALA LUMPUR – 27th to 29th JULY 2007)
June last year, IIS in collaboration with SABA Islamic Media organized the International Islamic Fair 2006 (IIF2006) at the PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. The 3-in-1 (Trade Fair, Conference & Dinner Concert) event being such a success, it was decided to make IIF an annual event.
The 3-day IIF2007 will be held on July 27th to 29th 2007, with almost triple the number of trade exhibitors! And guess what.. IIF is now officially endorsed by MATRADE , after just one event! That should say something about IIF’s past performance…
Last year’s Conference and Dinner Concert were such a talk-of-the-town, spreading beyond the PWTC premises, into the print media, TV talk shows, etc. We are proud to announce that IIS played a critical role in organizing the Conference and the Gala Dinner Concert (“Sounds of Islam”) last year, and similarly this year – for the IIF2007 !!
So, free yourself for the 28th & 29th July 2007 weekend. You cannot afford to miss it…
Review VIDEO CLIPS by the IIF2007 intro by the IIS’s Chief Da’awah Officer – Br. Shah Kirit
Dear readers/visitors who have a website/blogs, promote our event on your blog by putting this IIF Video Introduction by Shah Kirit Bin Kakulal Govindji, Da’wa Officer of IIS, the picture and the banner at your blog. Spread this news.
IIF2007 CONFERENCE – Saturday 28th July & Sunday 29th July 2007
Theme: UNITY for PEACE…
Godlessness, recklessness, technology-without-God, arrogance and ‘talk-to-God’ type stupidity… wars are getting nastier, dirtier and much more dangerous to both human beings and the environment. The war mongers must be stopped, and stopped NOW. The world needs PEACE like never before. But peace needs UNITY – unity among Muslims, and unity among the good-people-of-the-world, regardless of race or religion. The world needs to talk with ONE VOICE – the voice that says: NO to War and Oppression. Yes, people need to unite – UNITE for PEACE !
What’s happening in the Muslim world?? Where are we at with our economy, business, arts and education?? What’s going on around the world & how are we affected?? Burying our heads in the sand would not do. Find out more. Be there at the IIF2007 Conference.
Get the FACTS, then be part of the SOLUTION !!
4 sessions:
Session 1: Update on the Ummah
Latest updates on pressing issues in the Muslim world – Iraq, Palestine, Sudan… Session 2: Business, Economy & Finance
Business Jihad? Perfect IP&S hub. What’s happening to Zakah resources? Gold Dinar. Session 3: Human Relations, Media & Global Peace
9/11 Ripple Effect. The NEW Media of hope. Dreaming of World Peace… Session 4: Community, Arts & Education
Awareness=Survival. Muslim View Magazines anyone? Need for Islamic entertainment.
Keynote address by Tan Sri Sanusi Junid (President, International Islamic University)
International speakers (Muslims and non-Muslims) from all over the world:
Yusuf Estes (Texan former priest & speaker on Islam), Sheikh Imran Hosein (Former imam of UN mosque, New York), Dylan Avery (Producer, “Eyewitness of 9/11” and “Loose Change” DVDs), Dave Von Kleist (Host, “Power House” American radio and Co-producer, “In Plane Site” DVD), and many others.
March 23rd, 2008 by 
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