New mosque officially opens in former Catholic Church as Eid celebrations begin

For Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador, Sunday represents the end of Ramadan and a new beginning for the community.

When the community prayed to commemorate Eid, they gathered at a new mosque at the former Queen Mary Catholic Church on St. John Tobay Road.

The Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador President Haseen Khan attended about 6,000 prayer meetings, saying the event was a big day for his community for several reasons.

“People are very happy, people are excited, people have a sense of ownership, they have a sense of happiness, and now they have a place where they can pray as a group (a community).”

After purchasing the church in December, the association worked to undergo a timely renovation to open for EID, one of the most sacred periods in the Muslim calendar.

“This is a great celebration for Muslims. It marks a month of fasting, a month of training. Training on God’s consciousness, training on self-discipline, self-discipline, self-discipline, care and sharing is one of the five pillars of Islam.”

Watch | St. John’s Eid Prayer is held in the new Manal Mosque:

Check out the Eid celebrations at the New St. John’s Mosque in the former Catholic Church

Sunday marks the first day of Eid for billions of Muslims around the world, but this holiday is very special for Muslims in the St. John’s area this year. This is also the official opening of the new mosque of the former Marie Peace Church.

“We are celebrating Eid, but we are also celebrating Eid prayers for the first time in this new mosque,” he said. “It’s a very special day for Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador. They are able to pray as a community under a roof. So it’s exciting, reassuring, and enjoyable.”

Khan said such a large population demonstrates the scope of diversity within the Muslim community.

“At the same time, it shows the unity of faith,” he said. “In the spirit, we are all united, but we have our own cultural diversity, our own values. But again, we all believe in a God, we all believe in a ritual, which is a month of fasting and then celebrate the completion of fasting through this prayer.”

Others who attended the meeting liked the way the new mosque united community was.

“It’s so beautiful to see all these different people from all walks of life come to a place to worship God and practice their faith, it’s just a show of our acceptance and love in Newfoundland,” Hady Ghoneim said.

“You feel safe and feel love…you are really welcome. The love and acceptance we have in this community is amazing.”

Ghoneim said it was delighted that the former church still had similar purposes.

“It’s still used to worship God,” Gonim said. “We’re all the same. We’re all one, from one side to the other. I’m glad to see it.”

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