Columban Mission Institute Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations 167 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135 ● Postal Address: Locked Bag 2002, Strathfield NSW 2135 Phone: (02) 9352 8013 ● Fax: (02) 9746 8033 ● E-Mail: cmr.cmi@columban.org.au ● columban.org.au

Number 55 May 2012

EDITORIAL

Family is the main theme of this issue of Bridges. It is the foundation of every society, the home, the hearth, the genesis of the next generation, the first school, the enduring bond and the last refuge. The Muslim Family is an extract from Muslim Australians: Their Beliefs, Practices and Institutions by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and Australian Multicultural Foundation in association with the University of Melbourne which details the core values, teaching and ideals by which Muslim families live (pp. 4, 6). An Education Pact for the Adults of Tomorrow is a talk by Cardinal Angelo Scola in preparation for the VII World Conference of Families (p. 5). There are also references to ten catecheses on the Catholic Christian Family (p. 6). Finally, there are summaries and references to Miscellaneous Articles on the family (p. 7). Given the many challenges facing the family in today’s society, we join in offering Pope John Paul II’s Prayer for Every Family on Earth (facing column).

Patrick J McInerney, Editor

Prayer for Every Family on Earth

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in His ways!

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

Psalm 128:1, 3-4

Lord, from You every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. Father, You are Love and Life. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman, and through the Holy Spirit, the fountain of divine charity, grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love. Grant that Your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands and wives for the good of their families and of all the families of the world. Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love. Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the sacrament of marriage, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the Church may fruitfully carry out her worldwide mission in the family and through the family. We ask this of You, who are Life, Truth, and Love with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pope John Paul II, L’Osservatore Romano, 25-5-1980, p. 19

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NEWS FROM THE CENTRE

Multi-Faith Forum, Toowoomba Fr Patrick McInerney was one of several VIP guests at the Multi-Faith Forum Morality & Virtues, A Faith Perspective and in Conversation with Faith Leaders hosted by the Pure Land Learning College at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba from 16-19 March. The Venerable Buddhist Master Chin Kung presented several addresses, along with representatives of other faiths: Baha’i, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism. The hospitality and services provided by our hosts, including simultaneous translation of addresses, were excellent. Travelling together, staying together at the same venue, sharing meals together and attending the sessions together contributed to a deepening of relationships among the local, interstate and international participants. Melkite Bishop Robert Rabbat Bishop Robert Rabbat arrived in Sydney late last year to lead the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand. Fr Patrick McInerney and Fr Brian Vale called on the new bishop in his office in Greenacre on 28 March to introduce themselves and the work of our Centre. We enjoyed the hospitality extended to us and look forward to continuing and developing the good relationships established between the Centre and the Melkite community during the term of his predecessor, Bishop Issam Darwish, who has been appointed Archbishop of Zahleh, Lebanon. Affinity Intercultural Foundation On 5 April the Columban Mission Institute hosted Mr Ahmet Keskin, the newly appointed Executive Director of Affinity Intercultural Foundation. The staff at the Centre has enjoyed very good relations with the leaders and members of Affinity and has collaborated on many projects to produce better mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims. Fr Patrick McInerney and Fr Brian Vale presented Mr Ahmet Keskin with a Certificate of Appreciation to acknowledge Affinity’s contribution to interfaith dialogue over the past ten years and more. Abraham Conference Fr Brian Vale has regularly been attending the meetings of the Organizing Committee for the Abraham Conference. This is a joint venture of Affinity Intercultural Foundation, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, the Columban Mission Institute, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT. The theme of this 10th Conference is Family. It will be held on Sunday 3 June at North Sydney. See the insert for details.

Mini-Parliament of the World’s Religions On 21 March the Columban Mission Institute and the Catholic Institute of Sydney co-hosted a Mini-Parliament with a high quality panel of representatives of 8 different religions—Aboriginal, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh—many of whom are national, state and local heads of their respective religious communities. Each presented interreligious dialogue from their religion’s point of view. Fr Patrick McInerney then conducted a brief Q&A before opening the forum to the audience for further questions. Fr Brian Vale offered a vote of thanks and the evening concluded with further conversation over light refreshments. The event was part of the academic course on Interreligious Dialogue at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and was very much appreciated by all who attended. Sheikh Faraz Rabbani On Sunday 15 April Karachi-born scholar. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, who trained under teachers in various countries in the Middle East and currently resides in Toronto, Canada, presented a one day seminar, Forty Hadiths on Reviving Religion, based on the Chapter Headings of Imam Ghazzali's Ihya Uloom ud-Deen. Fr Patrick McInerney attended the the session for a short while and enjoyed the hospitality of Imam Afroz Ali and the students and staff of al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development. Book Launch On 28 April Fr Patrick McInerney and Fr Brian Vale attended the launch of Islam between Tradition and Modernity: An Australian Perspective held at the Sebel Hotel in Parramatta. This is the latest book by Mr Mehmet Ozalp, the Director of the Islamic Sciences & Research Academy of Australia (ISRA). As the title indicates, the book is the author’s attempt to make sense of the tensions that exist in bringing the values of a venerable tradition to bear on the post-modern, secularised, technological, multi-faith society of Australia. An impressive array of Muslim, Christian and interfaith proponents were in attendance.

Condolences “Verily we are from God and to Him we shall return.” As this issue was being prepared we heard of the death of Sheikh Dr Mohsen Labban, the leader and teacher of a diverse Muslim community who gather for instruction every Friday night at Wentworthville, NSW. Our sympathies to Dr Labban’s family, friends and followers. May God reward him for his sincere labours and his interfaith hospitality.

3

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Mourning for Coptic Patriarch Pope Shenouda III, 88, died in Cairo, Egypt on 17 March 2012. He had been Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church for more than 40 years and was a charismatic and much-loved leader, a great ascetic and scholar who wrote more than 120 books. Tens of thousands of Egyptian Coptic Christians joined a funeral mass for their patriarch. May he rest in peace and may peace come to his troubled land.

For full report see: http://www.theage.com.au/national/mourning-for-coptic-patriarch-20120318-1vdl3.html

The Sixth Regional Interfaith Dialogue, Semarang, Indonesia, 11-15 March 2012 The theme of this latest Government organized conference was “Strengthening Collaborative Communities to Promote Regional Peace and Security”. Recommendations from the dialogue included: that religious communities develop programs

for emerging religious leadership to learn from and about other faiths,

that countries be encouraged to develop and implement programs to support interfaith education, collaborative interfaith activities, including education on peace and ethical values,

that religious communities make efforts to include young men and women in collaborative interfaith projects, and

that participating countries explore the development of national women’s interfaith networks and a regional women’s interfaith network.

See www.cimer.org.au for the following reports:

Media Release http://www.cimer.org.au/documents/TheSixthRegionalInterfaithDialogue-media.pdf Plan of Action http://www.cimer.org.au/documents/SemarangPoA2012.pdf

Abdul Sattar Edhi: A Beacon of Hope in Pakistan Late last year the government of Pakistan submitted an official nomination to the 2012 Nobel Peace prize Committee for a Pakistani humanitarian, Abdul Sattar Edhi. His organization, the Edhi Foundation, was established in 1951 from a small ambulance, which he drove himself, into an international charity organization with centres in 37 countries which responds to disaster-stricken communities.

For more information see: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=31214&lan=en&sp=0

48th Congress of Muslims Australia The Australian Federation of Islamic Council’s 48th Congress was held in Sydney on 24-25 March with delegates representing all states of Australia. The newly elected President is Mr Hafez Kassem (Sydney). Mr. Ikebal Patel (Queanbeyan) is Vice President. The new secretary is Dr. Sahabuddin Abdullah (Adelaide) and Mr. Metin Yavuz (Melbourne) is the new treasurer. The other members of the executive are Mr. Ashraf Usman Ali (Sydney), Mr Keysar Trad (Sydney), Miss Rawah El Samman (Sydney), Mr Harun Abdullah (Hobart) and Mr Abdul Kamreddine (Melbourne).

For full report see www.afic.com.au or http://www.muslimsaustralia.com.au/

Pakistan’s First Oscar A Pakistani woman, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, received an Academy Award (or Oscar) in Hollywood for co-directing the Best Documentary (Short Subject). Obaid Chinoy’s award-winning film, Saving Face, highlights a particularly horrific form of gender violence (using acid to attack and disfigure women). It is a grim reminder of the acid burning phenomenon that stems from a complex set of socio-cultural beliefs and practices that Pakistan – and other countries in the region, like Bangladesh and India, where such attacks also occur – must do more to counter.

For more information see: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=31090&lan=en&sp=0

WCC Appreciates Görmez’ Views on Protection of Christian Minorities The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed great appreciation for recent comments by Mehmet Görmez, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate in Turkey, who sharply criticized the Fatwa (religious order) of Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti endorsing the destruction of churches, criticizing it as baseless and against Islamic principles. Görmez is quoted as describing the statement as unacceptable, completely lacking any validity in Islam. “All over the world, Muslims have started to live together with members of other civilizations. That’s why we need to rediscover our long-standing culture of living together,” he added.

For more details see: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1634/wcc-appreciates-goermez.html

4

MUSLIM FAMILY LIFE

Introduction

The basic unit of society in Islam is the family. The

individual within the family has obligations towards

other members of the family (both immediate and

extended) and to society. Islam recognises the

traditional family of husband, wife and children.

Parents have a duty to care for their children, educate

them, and teach them the basics of Islam. Children

are expected to respect their parents, and look after

them when they are old. Husbands and wives have

duties towards each other. In the family, all members

are dependent on one another. The mother has a

particularly important place in the family. The Prophet Muhammad on Mothers A Companion of the Prophet asked him, ‘Messenger of Allah, to whom should I be dutiful?’ He replied, ‘Your mother.’ I asked, ‘Then whom?’ He replied, ‘Your mother.’ I asked, ‘Then whom?’ He replied, ‘Your mother.’ I asked, ‘Then to whom should I be dutiful?’ He replied, ‘Your father, and then the next closest relative and then the next.’ Despite these teachings, the practice among Muslims varies greatly. Some believe that the wife is subservient to the husband, more or less like a servant. In some cultures, Muslim children sometimes ignore the teaching of Islam about their duties towards their parents. Young Muslims Muslim youth in Australia, like any other young

people, have their fair share of problems:

homelessness, drugs, delinquency and crime.

However, there is no research to back up the view

that these problems are more prominent in Muslim

communities than in other Australian communities.

It seems that, of all the problems faced by Muslim

youth, the drug problem is perhaps the most

challenging.1

1 For further details see Abdullah Saeed, Islam in

Australia, 90-92.

Family planning

Generally speaking, many Muslims have no

objections to family planning or controlling the

number of children that two parents might have.

Various family planning measures are widely used.

However, in many Muslim societies, it is still quite

common to have large families. Even in Australia,

Muslims from certain ethnic groups tend to have

larger families. In Australia, as elsewhere, the size

of the family depends on many factors: class,

education, generation and ethnicity. This is not to

deny that there are some Muslims who strongly

believe that having a large family is a religious

requirement encouraged by Islam.

Abortion For many Muslims today,

abortion is considered

prohibited unless there is an

immediate danger to the life

of the mother. In some

Muslim majority countries,

abortion is tolerated, but in

others it is strictly prohibited.

Abortion: A Common View

among Muslims

Abortion is the wilful

cessation of pregnancy. It is

a crime against a living

human being. Technological

advances have made it

possible to show that an

unborn child has attained all

human characteristics within

eight weeks of conception. Miscarriages due to

biomedical factors are not abortions, as those

happen without human interference. If, however, it

is reliably established that the continuation of the

pregnancy will result in the death of the mother,

then the principle of choosing the lesser of two

evils is followed, and an abortion is allowable. The

mother’s life takes precedence over that of her

baby in such an instance because the mother is

already established in life with many duties and

responsibilities. It is thus less disruptive to family

life (although just as regrettable) to sacrifice the life

of the unborn child which has not yet acquired a

personality nor has any duties, responsibilities or

obligations.2 [continued page 6]

2 Ghulam Sarwar. Sex Education: The Muslim

Perspective. Sydney: The Muslim Educational Trust, 28.

5

An Education Pact for the Adults of Tomorrow by Cardinal Angelo Scola, 31 March 2012

Cardinal Angelo Scola is the Archbishop of Milan. He is a member of the Pontifical Councils for the Family, for the Laity, for

Culture, for Promoting New Evangelisation. In the following address reported in the English edition of the Italian newspaper

Il Sole 24 Ore he reflects on the challenges facing the family in today’s society.

Typically, the family communicates the basic moral experience to youth almost by osmosis. Through wholesome primary attachments, like a mother’s smile telling a child, “It’s good that you’re here,” each individual is acknowledged as a person in the womb of the family and then shown the future along with a promise of fulfillment. That promise leads to a commitment that is played out through interpersonal relations and in exchanges between generations. These three indissoluble factors—acknowledgment, promise, commitment—are essential to the existence of every human being. As a result, it seems reasonable that the Catholic Church’s Handbook of Social Doctrine define the family as “a community of love and solidarity… uniquely able to teach and transmit cultural, ethical, social, spiritual and religious values essential for the development and well-being of its own members and of society” (Doctrine number 238). Today, however, these abilities of the family through which a person can flourish are being called into question. The Education Challenge, a report presented by the Italian Episcopal Conference’s Committee for the Cultural Project, shines a dramatic light on the education emergency that is occurring both in and out of the family, within various social contexts. Indeed, the family faces dangerous circumstances that require the use of personal and interrelational resources on a daily basis. But these are not always easy to summon, especially when families themselves exist within a fragmented social context. Sometimes, the risk presents itself in the form of a challenge, often tied to the task of balancing family and work, forcing parents to continuously devise new sensible and sustainable time-management solutions. The need to adapt to social situations with uncertain outcomes should not discourage us. Rather it underscores the urgency of the education mission. Even if at times it seems impossible, the mission calls the family to its basic duty: giving life—not only biologically but the full human experience—to a new person and a new generation. How can we support families as they undertake this mission that pertains not only to the familial realm but that has an impact on the well-being of

society? First of all, by being aware that children are always our offspring, meaning they were created and their bond to their parents as well as the other familial relationships are therefore part of their origin and upbringing. For the parents, grandparents and the whole family, each new child is special, despite any physical or mental disabilities that fate may have dealt them. From this perspective, the added value of the family is that it can generate and humanize, giving children their sense of uniqueness in a context of meaningful belonging that is lived day in and day out. In other words, the family is an irreplaceable womb within which young ones can form an identity and their humanity can mature. And it is an essential

resource for society. Given the depth and breadth of the commitment that lies before them, families cannot be left to fare on their own. The well-being of society lies in the balance between achieving and not achieving this goal. To this extent, it is urgent that the family be helped by other agents who, recognizing the primary educational value of the family, are willing to form a pact. I am thinking of an educational alliance within which educational agents—family, school and third parties in the community—can act jointly based on a subsidiary logic. They may

have distinct roles, but they share a common goal: achievement of full human potential and a personal growth that is both free and guaranteed. http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2012-03-31/education-pact-adults-tomorrow-034256.shtml?uuid=AbmUudGF&fromSearch

Further Reflections on the Family

by Cardinal Scola Fragile Relations Lead to Multifaceted Poverty, Cardinal Angelo Scola, 7 April 2012 http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2012-04-07/fragile-relations-lead-multifaceted-033553.shtml?uuid=AbCiuGKF&fromSearch The Challenge of Individualism and a Fragmented Society, Cardinal Angelo Scola, 24 March 2012 http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2012-03-24/challenge-individualism-fragmented-society-023509.shtml?uuid=AbmZtiCF&fromSearch

6

MUSLIM FAMILY LIFE [Continued from page 4]

Divorce Marriage in Islam is highly encouraged and considered to be a life-long commitment. In fact, the Prophet said that marriage constitutes half of the religion, perhaps meaning that the tests and trials that are naturally encountered in marriage and family life help make a person a better Muslim if they can deal with them successfully. If a marriage is in trouble, the Qur’an encourages the couple to seek help and advice from others, such as elders and those who can competently give such advice. If all attempts to save the marriage fail, divorce is seen as a reasonable option, but it is not generally advocated. If a marriage is to be terminated, this should be done with honour and respect. In the event of divorce, the wife’s rights are safeguarded under Islamic law. Despite the Islamic teaching against resorting to divorce, the divorce rate among young Muslims in Australia (particularly between 16 and 29 years of age) is higher than for the overall Australian population. Sex education Islam does not consider sex as a bad thing. In fact, sex is considered one of God’s ‘gifts’ and essential for the continuation of the human race. Islam encourages a healthy attitude towards sex, but insists that it be within the bounds of marriage. Children are taught about changes to their bodies at puberty, how they should deal with those changes, and what is permissible or prohibited with regard to sex. Usually, girls are taught by their mothers and boys by their fathers. Teaching and

talking about sex is a normal part of life in many Muslim societies. However, many Muslim parents in Australia appear to be concerned with the way sex education is taught in schools, and with what they perceive as encouragement to students to experiment with sex outside marriage, or an expectation that they will. Domestic violence Islam condemns domestic violence in the strongest terms. The relationship between a husband and wife is to be based on mutuality, cooperation and love. The Prophet said:

The most perfect believer is one who is the best in courtesy and amiable manners, and the best among you people are those who are most kind and courteous to their wives.

Even in the case of divorce, the Qur’an says:

When you divorce women, and they fulfill the term of their waiting period, either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them, [or] to take undue advantage; if any one does that, he wrongs his own soul. (Qur’an 2:231)

An extract from Muslim Australians: Their Beliefs, Practices and Institutions, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and Australian Multicultural Foundation in association with the University of Melbourne, 2004, pp. 30-32. The document is available at: http://amf.net.au/library/uploads/files/Religion_Cultural_Diversity_Resource_Manual.pdf

Ten Catecheses (Teachings) on the Catholic Christian Family

The Family: Work and Celebration is the title of the Seventh World Meeting of Families organised by the Pontifical Council for the Family. It will be held in Milan from 30 May to 3 June 2012. In preparation for the event, a series of catecheses or teachings has been provided, each containing prayers, scripture, instruction, and questions for discussion. They treat the following themes:

1. The secret of Nazareth 2. The family generates life 3. The family is put to the test 4. The family animates society 5. Work and celebration in the family 6. Work, a resource for the family 7. Work, a challenge for the family 8. Celebration, a time for the family 9. Celebration, a time for the Lord 10. Celebration, a time for the community

Together they constitute an excellent educational resource/discussion kit, not only for intended participants at the World Meeting of Families but for Catholic and other families everywhere. The series can be accessed at http://www.family2012.com/en/catecheses/.

7

Miscellaneous Articles on the Family

Women Heralding Change in Pakistan Shad Begum, a Pakistani Muslim woman from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is a recipient of the 2012 International Women of Courage Award presented annually by the US Department of State. She pioneered welfare work for women in her home district, including primary education, political training and micro-credits to help empower them. In 2001 she entered politics where, despite opposition and threats from conservative leaders, she managed to prevail. Four years later, following her activism and campaigning, 127 women were elected in the local area, including a major breakthrough of men voting for women in the election. The greater profile of women in leadership has led to legislation that addresses womens’ concerns. For full story see: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=31249&lan=en&sp=0 Muslim Womens’ Stories about Love Love, InshAllah is the title of a brand new anthology of personal stories by Muslim American women about love and relationships. The twenty-five stories relate the live issues that Muslim women face, including arranged marriage, conversion, falling in love, the struggles with romance and dealing with societal expectations. The personal stories are honest – sometimes painfully so. Not only have they opened the door for conversations among Muslim women on these topics, but they have enabled people from other faiths and backgrounds “to connect emotionally to Muslim women, heart-to-heart, beyond the headlines”, not as stereotypes, but “as women”, with the same hopes, desires and feelings that all women have. For full review see: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=31283&lan=en&sp=0 Creating New Spaces for Muslim Youth in the UK Many young people from immigrant backgrounds feel isolated in UK society and struggle to reconcile the identities they received from their parents with what they experience in school and at work. Jawaab (an Urdu word meaning “answer”) is a new grassroots organization that provides safe spaces for them to dialogue. In a supervised environment, Muslim youth are encouraged to discuss these differences in values, the inequality between men and women and other cultural conflicts in the British Pakistani community and so become more at home in their hybrid identity. For full story see: http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=31093&lan=en&sp=0

Forced Marriage Without Consent, an ABC Four Corners programme by Sarah Ferguson and Deb Masters on the subject of forced marriage, screened on national television on 2 April 2012. The traditional practice of arranged marriage can and does work when appropriate parental responsibility is exercised. However, when forced marriage is organised by families and condoned by religious authorities the results are disastrous, as this programme showed. Contrary to misguided religious claims that condone forced marriage, Imam Afroz Ali of the al-Ghazzali Centre for Islamic Sciences and Human Development clearly stated that according to Islamic law freedom and the personal consent of both parties is required for any Muslim marriage to be valid. For details and video see: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/03/29/3466537.htm Islam: Singular or Plural? Shahid Khan, a Muslim PhD student at Georgetown University, and Tasi Perkins, a Christian Protestant Ecumenist, engaged in an interfaith dialogue on the stereotypical image of a monolithic Islam. Just as there is great cultural diversity in the Muslim world, so also there are various degrees of religious observance; and the same is true in the Christian world. However, while ideological stances tend to demonize Muslims as scapegoats, what is required is a “receptivity” that seeks to understand what is different. For the full text of their dialogue see: http://www.stateofformation.org/2012/03/islam-singular-or-plural-a-muslim-christian-conversation/?utm_source=Email+Updates&utm_campaign=fb8153693e-Draft+Newsletter_36&utm_medium=email Social Justice Sunday Statement Each year the Australian Catholic Bishops issue a major statement for Social Justice Sunday, the last Sunday in September, which this year falls on the 30th of September 2012. In this the “Year of Grace” which commences on Pentecost Sunday, the 27th of May 2012 and continues until Pentecost Sunday 2013, the theme of the Social Justice Statement will be the family. Please keep your eye out for this important document. It will be available on the website of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (ACSJC) from mid-September at: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/

8

WHAT’S COMING UP

27 May – Pentecost (Catholic Christian)

27 May - 3 June – Reconciliation Week

03 June – Abraham Conference (North Sydney) (see flyer)

03 June – Trinity Sunday (Christian)

03 June – Pentecost (Orthodox Christian)

10 June – Corpus Christi [Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ] (Catholic Christian)

16 June – Lailat al-Mi’raj [The Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascension] (Muslim)

01-04 July – Jewish, Christian, Muslim Association (JCMA) Winter Conference (Melbourne)

04 July – Lailat al-Barat [Night of Records] (Muslim).

20 July – Ramadan [Beginning of the Muslim month of fasting - depends on sighting of new moon]

29 July – Tisha Báv [Jewish Day of Mourning commemorating the destruction of the two temples]

14 August – Lailat al-Qadr [Night of Power/Destiny] (Muslim)

15 August – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Catholic Christian]

15 August – Dormition of the Theotokos [Orthodox Christian]

19 August – cEid al-Fitr: [Feast marking the end of the Muslim month of fasting - depends on sighting of new moon]

02 September – Multicultural cEid Festival and Fair (MEFF), Fairfield

8 September – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Catholic Christian]

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