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Diocese

Southwark Cathedral hosts first interfaith youth arts event

On Monday 5 May, Southwark Cathedral hosted its first interfaith youth arts event.  11-18 year olds from the Cathedral’s YouthXpress programme were joined by groups of young people from Hyderi Islamic Centre and Noam Masorti Youth (the youth movement for the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues).

Nine young people from YouthXpress opened the event with their performance of The Prodigal Daughters, an updated version of The Prodigal Son from Luke’s Gospel, which they had written especially for the event.  Set in modern-day London, this lively account highlighted unconditional love and forgiveness.  They also gave a short presentation explaining different traditions relating to key points during the Christian calendar: Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, Lent and Easter.

The play was followed by fascinating talks by four young Muslims, each of whom talked about an aspect of their faith.  Young women talked about “Being a Muslim Woman” and “Wearing the Hijab”; young men talked about “Jihad” (highlighting the less-widely known definition, that of the spiritual struggle of each man against vice, passion and ignorance) and “Respect for Teachers and Parents”.  Their presentation included a wonderful poem about being a Muslim woman.

Seven Jewish young people then divided the participants into three small groups and shared about Shabbat (Sabbath), Pesach (Passover) and customs in Israel.  The latter was led by two young Israeli women who were visiting the UK for a week.  They ended their presentation by teaching the group the Hebrew song, Kol Ha'olam kulo Gesher Tsar me'od  (The Whole World is a Narrow Bridge).  This was a spirited conclusion to the creative part of the event.

Following refreshments and a chance for the young people to get to know one another informally, Canon Bruce Saunders gave the group a tour of the Cathedral and answered questions about the Christian faith.

Asking the participants what they had enjoyed most about the event, they told us: “The way everyone spoke about different aspects of their faiths”; “The interaction and information which came out of the event; and the awareness of religions”; “Meeting people”; “The principle of it – getting religions together”.  Ayala, one of the young people from Israel, commented: “I loved the listening and acceptance of each other”. 

Andreas Schoeler, Southwark Cathedral’s Youth Ministry Administrator, who organised the event said: “It was great to see so many young people connecting and sharing their faiths and traditions. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves and I am looking forward to another session at a later time."

YouthXpress (for 11 – 18 year olds) meets on the first and third Sundays of the month in the Education Centre for breakfast from 10.30 am and finishes with the Eucharist.   It offers an open, friendly, secure, fun and reflective space for young people to explore the important questions in life with a varied programme including excursions and discussion groups.  All young people are welcome whether or not they attend the cathedral.

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