Karachi Catholic School Takes Students to Five Sites for Interfaith Learning

St. Patrick’s Girls’ High School in Karachi organized an interfaith educational visit for Class IX students, taking them to places of worship representing Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam, as well as an orphanage for Muslim girls.

The initiative was organized under the school’s Religious Studies curriculum and gave students an opportunity to learn about different faith traditions through direct encounters outside the classroom.

A group of 45 students, including 36 Christian and nine Hindu girls, accompanied by eight teachers, participated in the visit. The group visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu temple; a Sikh gurdwara; Abu Bakar Masjid, a Muslim mosque; and an orphanage for Muslim girls.

At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kashif Anthony, a senior teacher and organizer of the visit, read a message from Fr. Shakeel Gulzar, director of the Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Archdiocese of Karachi.

Fr. Gulzar emphasized the importance of dialogue and encounter among young people. He said visits to sacred spaces of different faith traditions could promote mutual respect, correct misconceptions and contribute to greater harmony in society.

At Swaminarayan Mandir, Maharaj Vijay introduced the students to Hindu traditions, customs and practices.

During the visit to the Sikh gurdwara, Sardar Shankar Singh explained Sikh teachings on equality, sharing and service.

At Abu Bakar Masjid, Aisha and Mufti Talha Mohayudin spoke to the students about Islamic prayer practices, traditions and community life.

The students also visited an orphanage for Muslim girls, where they met the residents and learned about the facility’s work. Yerusha Farry, a Christian student, said the encounter prompted her to reflect on her own life and inspired her to consider supporting the home in the future.

Students said the experience gave them a different perspective from classroom learning. Shirya Mukesh, a Hindu Class IX student, said classroom lessons provided knowledge, while visiting places of worship deepened her understanding.

Another student, Ariana L. Mall, said people may worship differently but can still learn to live together with respect.

Teachers structured the itinerary around observation, direct interaction and open inquiry. Anthony said the program sought to help students understand religious differences without fear and see how faith influenced daily life and community relationships.

Mona Rose D’Silva, principal of St. Patrick’s Girls’ High School, said the initiative went beyond an academic excursion by encouraging students to approach religious differences without prejudice. She said the experience demonstrated the role education could play in fostering understanding among young people in Pakistan.