Al Faisal Colleges host Iftar Dinner

The Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Commission for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Sr Giovanni Farquer RSJ has reflected on the inspiration all people of faith can take from Australia’s only saint, Mary MacKillop at a large Iftar dinner at a Muslim school campus in western Sydney.

Sr Giovanni delivered the Closing Address at Al-Faisal College Liverpool and Al-Faisal College Campbelltown’s Annual Iftar Dinner on Wednesday 27 March in Austral, attended by over 200 people.

Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Commission for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Sr Giovanni Farquer RSJ, speaking at the Al Faisal Colleges Iftar Dinner on 27 March 2024.

Al-Faisal Colleges educate around 4000 students across K-12 coeducational schools in Liverpool, Campbelltown and Auburn in western Sydney.

Special guests at the dinner included Fr Yousef Fanous from the Coptic Orthodox Church, members of the diplomatic corps, Liverpool Mayor, Councillor Ned Manoun and State MP for Holsworthy, Mrs Tina Ayyab.

The Founder and Managing Director of Al Faisal Colleges, Dr Shafiq Khan (third from right) and Executive Principal, Mrs Safia Khan Hassanein (5th from left) with some guests at the college’s 2024 Iftar Dinner.

In her address, Sr Giovanni reflected upon the words of Pope St John Paul II on St Mary MacKillop during a visit to Australia in 1995.

 “Mary MacKillop embodied all that is best in your Nation and its people – genuine openness to others, hospitality to strangers, generosity to the needy, justice to those unfairly treated, perseverance in the face of adversity, kindness and support for the suffering. Think of Mother Mary MacKillop and learn from her to be a gift of love and compassion for one another, for all Australians and for the world.”

Sr Giovanni told those gathered for the dinner that St Mary MacKillop appreciated that all members of humanity are loved as children of God and so we are called to embrace interfaith dialogue to help us better appreciate the bonds that unite us.

The Executive Principal of Al Faisal Colleges (Auburn, Campbelltown and Liverpool), Mrs Safia Khan-Hassanein hopes the event has helped to nurture interfaith friendship and understanding.

“Such events as the Iftar dinner are crucial in fostering understanding and cohesion among diverse groups, offering a key chance to overcome biases, bring communities together, and uphold the essential principles of goodwill, peace, and harmony”, Mrs Khan said.