The Catholic college with a Muslim School Captain
by Graham DownieSource: Canberra Times
Like any captain of a Catholic college, Adam Refki plays a leading role in the religious life of the school.
The difference is that he is a Muslim.
As the popularly elected school leader of Canberra’s St Mary MacKillop College, Adam has found his Muslim faith has opened opportunities for interfaith dialogue.
From his exposure to Christianity through his Catholic education, he said, ”There are great parallels between the two religions”.
”I find there are a lot of similarities. It kind of makes me wonder why it seems like there is such a difference out there in the world.”
The 18-year-old said that as a Muslim with a Catholic education, he had experienced acceptance first hand.
”And having received acceptance I can now offer acceptance.”
He has found many of the students at the college are intrigued by his faith. ”I attend masses and I am reverent but I don’t participate.”
His role as captain includes reading at the college’s masses. Though he takes part in prayers, he does not make the sign of the cross, which has caused other students to ask why.
”I tell them I am Muslim. … The advantage here is that I can tell them about my faith.” Similarly, when he fasts during Ramadan, he has a further opportunity for interfaith dialogue.
College principal Michael Lee said that when Adam was elected, ”he very beautifully approached me and said, ‘What is it you would want of me in terms of the faith life of the school?”’ He took part to the extent he was comfortable. Mary MacKillop had worked with people of all faiths.
Mr Lee said Adam’s role as captain was a tangible sign of the tolerance and inclusion of this Catholic school.
”I thought it was a great honour for us.
”I think Adam’s election to our school is a gift also to the Islamic community and I was pleased our school in a small way could make that further understanding between the two communities.”
He had been elected because he was Adam, not because he was Muslim, Mr Lee said. ”In no way did we feel our Catholic identity was diluted. We were always comfortable about that.”
The male and female captains of the college are elected by Year 11 students and staff.
”It was a huge honour that I was voted as college captain,” Adam said. ”I don’t see that I was voted as a token Muslim.”
He is concerned the impression given by the media is that Muslims are terrorists.
”Seeing me, they see Muslims are just like us. They are in our school; they study hard; they can be elected in leadership positions at St Mary MacKillop College.”
He plans to begin studying civil engineering at the University of NSW next year.
He also hopes to contribute the leadership skills he has developed at the college to university life. This might include an Islamic group, but he said, ”I wouldn’t want to limit myself to that.” ”I know I will be comfortable in seeking some kind of interfaith dialogue at university.”
He also hopes one day to complete the Hajj – the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
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How wonderful - I would hope that if a Catholic attended a muslim school they would be offered as much graciousness. To be fearful that this person may lose his faith is ridiculous if that faith offers a deep sense of "soul-love". Segregation of faiths is born of fear and therefore a lack of true belief and ultimately results in lack of knowledge, misrepresentation and strife.
Whatever choice that parents make, let's make sure our aqidah don't sway. I'm sure Brother Adam Refki will hold steadfast to his belief, insyaallah. :)
In many cases, parents are torn between sending their kids to a Catholic school or else to their local public school, and depending on which area they live, the Catholic school may be the better choice rather than them attending a secular, God-less school, especially where those schools have bad reputations.
The article says he attends the mass, not that he leads it.
*sorry, he did not read but participated in the reading during mass and prayers? i sincerely hope he does his zikr or recite the Quran as he sits in the mass.
leading a mass and stopping short of making the cross? come on, there should be other ways of embracing inter-faith understanding.
if you read the full article he doesnt participate in religious life of school although he is present >i dont see hm as compromising his idebntetity at all...interfaith stuff is just so important ,,
a fantastic posting....i think similarities need to be celebrated ...one can still keep ones identity ..wat a witness this captain can be to islam who knows how many will come to islam because of his witness or even just understand more a much maligned and misundrstood religion....
There is this verse in the Quran: To you be your way, and to me mine” (Qur’an 109:06). This should be one piece of advice we should hold true to our heart. In the midst of promoting understanding and tolerance, we should not compromise our identity.
Well that's kind of confusing though...how can a muslim lead catholic prayers?
Isn't there that verse fron Quran that says : "if you act like them, you're one of them" ?
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Congratulations to Adam and to his family and of course to his College. From reading some of the comments already posted, I think it is time that some Muslims in our community need to "lighten up" and realise that we are living in a modern country and in the 21st Century. I agree so much with what Serena Dumsa has to say.
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