Islam

 

 

As part of our commitment to Dialogue and Encounter in Religious Education, we were extremely lucky to welcome Mr Gharda to a TEAMs meeting this week. Mr Gharda works in the nuclear waste industry and occasionally visits Sellafield as part of his role, but lives in Birmingham with his family. He very kindly gave up his time to speak to the children in both classes about his life, his work and his faith as a Muslim.

The children were absolutely fascinated. They asked some incredibly deep, thoughtful and respectful questions and were eager to learn more about another faith and worldview. Mr Gharda was able to explain some of the similarities and differences between Islam and Catholicism, helping the children to deepen their understanding of both.

The children were intrigued by his way of life, the clothes he wears, the food he enjoys and the impact that his faith has on his daily life. They listened carefully and compared these experiences with their own Catholic faith with genuine interest and curiosity.

I was immensely proud of how welcoming our children were. They demonstrated exactly what we hope to nurture at St Joseph's: the ability to listen respectfully, value different perspectives and engage positively with others. They asked thoughtful questions, and recognised that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.

Through Catholic Social Teaching, our pupils are learning that everyone has inherent dignity, that communities flourish through cooperation and that people of all faiths can work together for the common good. They discovered that both Islam and Catholicism teach the importance of helping those in need, caring for creation and treating others with compassion and respect.

Perhaps my favourite moment of the day came at the end of the visit, when the children invited Mr Gharda to come back to St Joseph's the next time he is in this part of the country. However, they had one important condition — that he visits on a Friday because that's when we have fish for lunch, and they would love the chance to chat with him even more!

Both classes truly demonstrated respect, curiosity and hospitality throughout the visit. Thank you, Mr Gharda, for sharing your experiences so openly and honestly with us. You have helped our children to grow not only in knowledge and understanding, but also in empathy, compassion and appreciation of the rich diversity within God's world.

At St Joseph's, we believe that dialogue and encounter help our children to become confident in their own faith, whilst developing the understanding and respect needed to build a more peaceful and just world.

Following on from Mr Gharda's inspiring visit, we were delighted when one of our Year 4 pupils offered to also share some of her experiences. She spoke very confidently to her peers about her own faith and shared some of the special religious items she had brought in from home.

The children were fascinated as she explained the significance of these treasured objects and how they support her in living out her faith each day. They listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions and showed genuine interest and respect throughout.

At St Joseph's, we believe that learning about people of different faiths and worldviews is an important part of helping children to flourish as compassionate, respectful and informed members of society. Dialogue and Encounter helps children to understand their own faith more deeply while appreciating the beliefs and traditions of others.

 

Through these experiences, pupils learn to:

✦  Listen carefully to others

✦  Ask respectful and thoughtful questions

✦  Value different perspectives

✦  Recognise similarities and differences between faith traditions

✦  Challenge stereotypes and prejudice

✦  Recognise that every person is made in the image and likeness of God

✦  Build friendships based on kindness, understanding and mutual respect

✦  Work together for the common good

These encounters also bring Catholic Social Teaching to life. Our children are learning that:

✦  Everyone has inherent dignity and deserves to be treated with respect

✦  Communities flourish when people cooperate and support one another

✦  People of all faiths can work together to help those in need and care for our common home

✦  Peace begins with understanding, hospitality and a willingness to listen

 

“Dialogue is born from an attitude of respect for another person, from a conviction that the other person has something good to say.” — Pope Francis

 

I have been incredibly proud of the maturity, curiosity and openness shown by our children during these discussions. They welcomed Mr Gharda warmly, listened with interest and demonstrated that, even at a young age, they understand the importance of treating others with dignity and love.

A huge thank you to the pupil who shared such a personal part of her life with us. Experiences such as these help our children to grow in faith, deepen their understanding of the wider world and become the caring, compassionate citizens our world needs.

At St Joseph's, we believe that dialogue and encounter help our children to become confident in their own faith, whilst developing the understanding and respect needed to build a more peaceful and just world.

In Key Stage 2 we also learn about ;

Judaism 

A visit from Simon (and will return in 2027)

In February 2023, we had a special visit from Simon. He taught us all about his faith Judaism. 

Simon spoke to the whole school and then each class had a workshop where the children were able to look at artefacts and ask questions.