Whatever your religion, whatever your background, throw some snags on the barbecue at the Illawarra People for Peace's community initiative on Thursday. With the aim of promoting peace within the Illawarra region and fostering closer relationships between people of different faiths, cultures and traditions, the barbecue encourages people to enjoy good food and break down stereotypes. "The great bonus is that we get to know each other," St Francis Xavier's Cathedral's Father Ron Peters said. "People generally find safety and comfort behind their own faith tradition lines - making the step beyond that line is a step of courage, and people, whatever tradition, are reluctant to do that." Fr Peters believes the barbecue will continue to show the solidarity that exists within the Wollongong region. "It's a statement also for people who want a very basic thing in life, to live a peaceful and harmonious life with their families and their brothers and sisters from various different communities. It doesn't matter whether you're Muslim or Catholic or of the Uniting Church or of no faith," he said. Public officer of the Illawarra Muslim Association, Gary Ismail, believes food has the ability to bring people of all walks of life together. "We thought it would be a good idea to get people together to break bread, to eat and to get to know each other because breaking bread, it breaks a lot of the discrimination because you get to understand the other person," Mr Ismail said. "You can ask questions and see that they are not going to hurt you." Illawarra People for Peace was largely motivated by the unrest that continues overseas and Mr Ismail believes it has had a detrimental effect on Muslims across Australia. "The fear of the unknown is what people tend to become worried about so getting people together, having harmony and trying to encourage peace is very important." The barbecue is at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Harbour Street from 5pm to 8pm.