Lahore: December 24, 2018. (PCP) The Principal of Bait-ul-Quran; Mufti Sayed Ashiq Hussain organized a Cake Cutting ceremony in honour of Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM of Lahore and the Christian delegation of National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (NCIDE).

The Muslim scholars and leaders welcomed the delegation wholeheartedly and cited the presence of Christians in their Muslim Seminary. They considered it an honour and privilege to host the leadership of the Christian community. The delegation comprised of His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM, Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap, Fr. Faisal Francis, Dr. Marqas Fida, Qari Jamil Ahmad Khan, Moulana Ismat Allah Khan

The host Mufti Sayed Ashiq Hussain thanked all the participants for being present and especially thanked His Grace Archbishop for gracing the occasion to visit the Madrisa. While thanking the hosts, Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap expressed his happiness and appreciated the efforts of Muslim scholars for the promotion of peace, harmony and brotherhood. This is a symbol of unity among the different religions. His Grace Archbishop encouraged the audience with his beautiful words to change us for the betterment. He too thanked Mufti Ashiq Hussain. All the leaders cut a Christmas Cake together.

Christmas Peace Cards Exhibition

 Lahore (Dec 23, 2018) As the event of Christmas is approaching the enthusiasm and charm of Jesus’ birth is visible all around.  Children of different schools and Islamic seminaries of Lahore expressed their happiness and joy for Christmas by creating paintings on cards for a Christmas Peace Card Exhibition held at Gulberg, Lahore.  This significant occasion was organized by National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue & Ecumenism (Catholic Bishops’ Conference – Pakistan). Over 1000 cards were displayed by the Muslim Christian students.

Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap (Executive Secretary National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue & Ecumenism), Moulana Muhammad Asim Makhdoom and Fr. Faisal Francis OFM Cap were the guests of hnonour on this occasion.

 A large number of parents attended this exhibition and appreciated the efforts of their children.  In his message, Fr. Francis Nadeem emphasized the need for the promotion

of peace and tolerance. He expressed that the Christmas is an event of peace and harmony.  He appealed to all the children and their parents to be united and work together for the restoration of peace, progress and stability of the country. 

Moulana Muhammad Asim Makhdoom appreciated the emotions and ambitions of the children while watching the paintings and posters on the subject of Christmas peace message.

Interfaith Christmas Cake Cutting Ceremony 

Religious Leaders of different Religions Celebrated a Christmas Cake Cutting Ceremony organized by National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (Catholic Bishops Conference Pakistan ). The ceremony was attended by a big number of Islamic scholars, members of the civil society and people of all faiths.

His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM and Mr. Ahmad Sulemna Baloch were the Chief guests of this ceremony. Among the other participants of this Interfaith Christmas Celebrationwere Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap, Fr. Faisal Francis, Fr. Sunil Irfan Sabir,  Moulana Muhammad Asim Makhdoom, Hafiz Sayed Ashiq Hussain,  Dr. Badar Munir, Pir S.A. Jaffery, Moulana Arif Asghar Chishti, Dr. Saad Kahan and Qari Khalid Mahmood.

 Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap, while welcoming all the guests, presentedthe basic theme of this get together, he said that Christmas is the event of Peace, and this peace should prevail not only in Pakistan but in all over the world without any discrimination of creed and caste, colour or faith.

The Muslim scholars presented flowers and cake to the Christians leaders on this occasion and greeted best wishes for everyone. They expressed their thankfulness and gratitude for this get together.

 His Grace Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw OFM, while expressing hisviews, appreciated this gesture of brotherhood and generosity. He thanked the Muslim scholars and religious leaders for sharing the happiness of Christmas. He announced that the 800 years celebrations of the encounter of St. Francis with Sultan Al Kamil will be carried out all over Pakistan in the coming year to make it more meaningful. 

All the participants recited the peace prayer of St. Francis for the promotion of peace in Pakistan., while holding lit candles in their hands.