Live-in program builds understanding between Catholics, Muslims

Young Catholics say they have learnt more about Islam after a two-day stay at a pesantren, or Islamic boarding school, in western Java.

Young Catholics and Muslims share their faiths during the live-in program

“The young Muslims warmly welcomed us and we were involved in dialogues on our religions. The experience taught me that religions create no boundaries to relations with one other,” Lucia Wenehen told UCA News.

The Dec. 12-13 live-in program for the Jakarta Catholics was organized by the archdiocese´s Commission for Youth. The Muslim and Catholic participants ranged in age from 16 to 25.

Wenehen, a parishioner of Christ the Redeemer Church of Slipi in West Jakarta, said the program had opened her heart and mind to Islam and Muslims.

“I realize that there are still many people who want to accept us just the way we are. Our religions may be different but we are one in love,” she said.

In all, 43 young Catholics representing 11 parishes took part, even attending Sunday Mass in the hall of Pesantren Ashiddikiyah.

It was also an eye-opener to the young Muslims.

Istiqomah, a student of the pesantren, told UCA News that the program had brought her closer to young Catholics.

“All I knew before was that Catholics worship Jesus and they have holy scriptures and are led by priests. I have never got involved in a dialogue like this before,” she said.

Istiqomah said the interaction had given a better understanding of her faith to the Christians. “Thanks to the program, young Catholics now understand that Islam is not related to terrorism,” the 17-year-old said.

Catholic and Muslim youths pose for a photo at the end of the program

She now hopes young Muslims will pay a return visit to young Catholics so as to maintain contact.

Another young Muslim, Mohammad Yusuf, admitted that the program helped remove “prejudice … that had separated us.”

Wenehen said she would share what she has learned from the program with her fellow parishioners.

“I will tell them of the good values of Islam and that we must have an initiative to dialogue with Muslims,” she said.

The founder of the pesantren, Kiai Hajj Nur Iskandar, told the young people that they should no longer talk about the differences between them because it would only create prejudice and fanaticism.

“Prejudice and fanaticism divide people from different religious backgrounds. But in fact, we all are God´s creation,” he said.

The head of the archdiocese´s Commission for Youth, Father Antonius Suyadi, said the program was designed to create bonds between the two groups.

“We want to invite young Catholics to experience the life of young Muslims living in this pesantren and to dialogue with them as well. We want to develop fraternity between young Catholics and young Muslims,” he said.