Italy – Muslim and Christian youths pray together for concluding Ramadan celebration

14 June 2019

(ANS - Naples) - For the third consecutive year, at the "Don Bosco" Salesian Institute in Naples, there was the celebration of the end of Ramadan, with the Unaccompanied Foreign Minors welcomed in the Community dedicated to them, namely "Il Ponte", or the bridge. This year the experience was enriched by the young people of the new "La Zattera" Reception Center, also managed by the Salesians, which welcomes children in a state of emergency in the city of Naples, and of the "PuntoGiò" project, in collaboration with "SCS Salesiani per il Sociale" and the bank "Intesa San Paolo", their efforts dedicated to young immigrants now adults, with housing difficulties and without reference points.

On the evening of Saturday, June 8th, about 60 immigrant youngsters, both Muslims and Christians, gathered with the children and families of the oratory to give birth to this party.

Hassan, from Ghana, on behalf of the children of the Ponte, greeted those present by saying: "We are 15 minors, but with us there are also young adults, for a total of 26 young people ... On Saturday evening, with the 'PuntoGiò' project, we invite our other immigrant friends and the number goes up to over 40. We come from various countries. Some of us have been in Italy for two years, others for a few days, almost all arrived with the famous boats ... And many of us have also passed through the famous Libyan prisons ... But these stories, thank God, have passed. Most of us are Muslims, but there are also Christians. We are well together, without difficulty, but above all we are good and well at 'Don Bosco' ... Here there is no one first these or first the others ... Here we all feel first!"

Karim, from Egypt, presenting the meaning of Ramandan's celebration, emphasized: "We want to pray and celebrate with you, especially with our Christian brothers, because God is one, the same God, ours and yours: the God of Abraham. Praying together for us is important, it is not the first time ... even at Christmas we prayed together. It is important because only in this way can we say that we are brothers, we love each other and there are no wars or hatred."

The evening began with a moment of Christian and Muslim prayer. Moussa and Aliu, Muslim boys from Senegal, sang Islamic prayers; Julius, a Christian from Nigeria, sang "Jesus, You are Great". The moment of prayer ended with the exchange of peace between all.

The same boys then organized the rest of the evening, with traditional African and Asian dishes and a musical moment.

The Salesians of the "Don Bosco" of Naples strongly believe in these moments of integration as important gestures to educate young people to the faith. 

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