SACRUM FACERE
Race to all that is good
From the historic visit of French and Italian Muslims in the churces on July 30 / August 2 2016 a project has started: a platform to develop dialogue and knowledge among youth.
PartnerJuly 30th / August 2nd, 2016
Italian and French Muslims went to churches to show support to clergymen and Christians against terrorism
Sunday, July 31, 2016. The Muslim Italian and French youth of COREIS (Comunità Religiosa Islamica) and of IHEI (Institut des Hautes Etudes Islamiques) participated with their community, family and Christian friends in a salutation of peace in 30 cities across churches and monasteries in several regions of France and Italy, cities included: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Gap, Embrun, Rennes, Lille, Perpignan, Toulon, Rome, Milan, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Verona, Bovara, Brescia, Sondrio, Ventimiglia, Biella, Fermo, Siena, Piacenza, Brindisi, Agrigento and Susa.
The event was a sign of brotherhood, solidarity, respect, and closeness established after the tragic murder of Father Jacques, which occurred in his church during Mass before church-goers, young and old, and while Catholic sisters were in prayer. The upcoming, contemporary World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Krakow inspired the Muslim youth as European Muslims to participate in this symbolic gesture of spiritual brotherhood across various European churches.
The Italian Episcopal Conference and the Episcopal Conference of France, the President of the Italian Republic and the President of the French Republic, the mayors and the populations of 30 cities from Northern France to Southern Italy have expressed amazement and emotional support for the coordinated and public demonstration with Christian followers during their prayer.
The event precipitated a flurry of news stories involving more than 1,000 television reports and interviews and inspiring other Muslim associations and families to do the same during the same period, a spontaneous gesture of friendship and peace with priests, nuns, friars and monks in many cities of Europe.
Sacrum Facere, a platform to regularly develop public discussion and youth activities
The analyst, Olivier Roy, wrote a review of the July 31st event:
The event created an authentic religious front against terrorism. The fact that Muslims are going to churches, and in particular to mass, is a very important marker and something unheard of before. Muslims have been welcomed because of a mutual understanding between Catholic and Muslim followers.
Numerous requests for continuity of this closeness between young believers in Europe has pushed the young Italian and French Muslims of COREIS (Comunità Religiosa Islamica) Italiana and of IHEI (Institut des Hautes Etudes Islamiques), in collaboration with the network ACWAY (A Common Word Among Youth) to create a platform to regularly develop, in a coordinated manner, public discussion and youth activities.
Political and media representatives precipitated the launch of this interdisciplinary network between Christian and Muslim youth. Religious associations, local authorities and journalists have since become involved in the preparation, participation and promotion of a series of events planned in the coming months: in September events will center on the theme of pilgrimage, in October, there will be events centered on the 30th anniversary of the march for the peace of Assisi promoted by Pope John Paul II, in November there will be meeting centered on the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy and in December, there will be events centered on the theme of Mary and Jesus.