Inter Faith Breakfast
Our Inter Faith Breakfast is a wonderful event for both staff and pupils to discuss “Life’s Big Questions” This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the variety of beliefs, hopes and fears but also see the importance of shared values such as respect and love of others.
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The questions posed are thought-provoking and probe deeper thinking, they present moral dilemmas and offer no clear-cut answers. They allow everyone to have their own viewpoint and to think through their own rationale. They often even make us pose further questions. The questions provoke great dialogue between pupils and staff on the meaning of life.
Celebrating diversity within our community is part of ‘The St- Damian’s Way’. We are all made ‘Imago Dei’ which means in the ‘Image of God’.
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God has also made us unique. We have different backgrounds, cultures, religions, sexual orientation and so much more! Cultural celebrations foster respect and open-mindedness for other cultures. Celebrating our differences, as well as our common interests, helps unite and educate us.
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We should celebrate all our uniqueness and share it with each other. Below are some examples where we not only celebrate diversity, but as a community we actively embrace it. The St Damian’s Way believes that diversity strengthens our community.
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St. Damian’s Feast Day 2022
Each year on St Damian’s Feast Day, we celebrate all that our wonderful community has to offer. On 4th February 2022, pupils and staff shared and celebrated their diversity with form presentations on religion, culture and what is important to them. Some pupils wore their traditional dress and shared samples of their traditional foods. All pupils had the opportunity to listen to speakers from different faith groups, including both Judaism and Islam. Finally, we reflected on the quote “We have far more in common with each other than that which divides us.” The quote from Jo Cox MP and entered the Spirited Art and Poetry Competition.
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JUDAISM
On St. Damian’s Day, Mr Jonathan Davies presented a very informative talk to Year 9 & 10 pupils about the Jewish Faith and Jewish life in modern day Manchester. Mr Davies also spoke in detail about Jewish festivals, scripture, kosher foods and the Jewish prayer life. The focus on Judaism will be followed up in the summer term with a Y10 visit to the Holy Law Synagogue, Bury Old Road, Prestwich.
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The King David High School
St Damian’s forged a new link with a Jewish Faith school called The King David High School in Manchester. A group of Y8 pupils from The King David school and their Rabbi attended workshops with pupils from St. Damian’s. They focused on the ‘Big’ questions about life, team building and discussed the challenges of having and living out their Faith in our modern-day society.
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ISLAM
Ms Syara Bano, a practising Muslim gave talks to a range of year groups on life as a Muslim and how she navigates three different cultures; being British, being Pakistani & her Faith as a Muslim. Ms Bano also talked about key beliefs and traditions and wearing traditional dress. She also spoke pertinently about racial prejudice and islamophobia.
