The Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing will be one of dozens across the state to open its doors this weekend for the Victorian Mosque Open Day.
From 11am to 4pm on Sunday February 25, members of the public will able to tour the Hogans Road mosque where a special lunch will be provided and activities such as ‘Try on a Hijab’ and Islam information sessions will be offered.
“This will be a great opportunity for us to connect with our local community and for you to engage in conversation with members of your local mosque,” said Virgin Mary Mosque sub-committee president Hanif Shaik in encouraging local residents to come along.
“Let’s also make some time to discuss community issues and brainstorm ideas to build a stronger, safer, and more harmonious community.”
Islamic Council of Victoria President Adel Salman encouraged people to visit their local mosque even if they couldn’t make it on Sunday.
“Mosques are always open and always welcoming places,” Mr Salman said.
“This year we have a record number of mosques participating. As well as being a sacred space for prayer and reflection, they are places where communities gather, learn from each other and
share.”
The 2024 mosque open day takes place amid the conflict in Gaza where an estimated 30,000 Palestinians, most of them Muslims, have died since Israel launched military action following terrorist attacks on October 7.
Mr Salman said the Muslim community was deeply impacted by the suffering of the Palestinian people and that visiting a mosque was a great way of expressing compassion and solidarity.
Cade Lucas.
