MUSLIM CATHOLIC YOUTH IN DIALOGUE

World Youth Day 2002 Interfaith Event

September 2002

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During the World Youth Day events in Toronto, Scarboro Missions found itself caught up in an interfaith miracle. Teaming up with the Toronto Muslim community, Scarboro Missions co-sponsored an evening of dialogue involving 200 Muslim and 200 Catholic youth. The initiative for this event came from the Toronto Muslim community, which also offered to billet World Youth Day pilgrims from all over the world.

Muslim and Catholic Youth Talk Together at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto

This miraculous evening was definitely a first in Canadian history. After 13 centuries of bad history between Islam and Christianity, Muslim-Christian dialogue is breaking out all over the world. John Paul II has emerged as a major bridge-builder between these two faiths, which together comprise close to 50 percent of the world's population.

The World Youth Day program began with presentations from youth representatives of both the Muslim and Catholic faiths. Speakers reflected on the evening's theme - Reconciling with God: Living my faith in a secular society.

Following this, the entire body of 400 youth divided into 25 discussion groups. Some very lively discussions ensued, creating a powerful, positive and palpable energy in the room. During the program, youth recited prayers from both Islam and Catholicism.

Indeed, these energized young people fashioned a model for Muslim-Catholic dialogue that deserves to be imitated worldwide.

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