Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha at London Catholic school

A London Catholic school is transforming its athletic fieldinto a praying ground for thousands of Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha.

When members of the London Muslim community asked the London District Catholic School Boardto host it'sreligious celebration on Friday, the answer was simple:

"This is a wonderful opportunity."

"It's really important that we come to know where our similarities are and gain that greater understanding of each other," said Linda Staudt, the director of education at the board. "I think when you do that, a lot of misconceptions fall away."

Up to 4,000 people from London's Muslim community are celebrating the start of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday practiced amid a holy pilgrimage, at Saint Andre Bessette Catholic Secondary School on Friday morning.

The Catholic school has more than 50 Muslim students enrolled among its 900 student body.

Morning prayers

The open event will begin with morning prayers at the school's athletic field, led by an Imam fromthe London Muslim Mosque.

Nawiz Tahir,a representative of the mosque, said the collaboration speaks to a strong sense of unity in the city ata tense time in the political sphere.

"I think it's a great example of the notion that what unites us is greater thanwhat might divide us. We'rea lot more similar than we think," he said. "By praying on the property of brothers and sisters of Catholic faith,it's an extension of that notion of unity, and that we're all in this together."

He said representatives of the mosque reached out to the board to strengthen the relationship between the Muslim and Catholic communities.

Last June, thousands of Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr at Western University's TD Stadium.

• 'It was crazy': Thousands celebrate Eid al-Fitr at football staidum in London

Eid al-Adha

Muslims aroundthe world began an annual pilgrimage late last month in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to retrace the route the Prophet Mohammad journeyed centuries ago. Eid al-Adha, also known as the feast of sacrifice, is often celebrated with the processing of an animal to share among the community.

"We emphasize that love of neighbour and solidarity that we have with other traditions," said Straudt, who islooking forward to seeing members of both faiths at Friday's ceremony.

"If through this, some ... members of our community now take the time to learn more about the Catholic faith traditions along with the Muslim faith traditions, then we're in great shape."