ECUMENICAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE ECU:tviENICAL AFFAIRS COIVIMISSION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE. 383 ALBERT STREET, EAST MELBOURNE 3002. PO BOX 146, EAST MELBOURNE 3002. TELEPHONE 9926 5751 FACSIMILE 9926 5617 PRINT POST PUBLICATION No. PP381667 / 00474 No. 55, JULY 2000 Breaking Through with the Great Faiths in Melbourne Archdiocese ow did it happen that Melbourne Catholic churches hosted prayer services and a peace forum with people of the H 'Great Faiths' at Pentecost, this Year of Jubilee? St ~atrick'~ Cathedral,_ H_oly Spirit_East Thornbury and StMary's Geelong were selected by Moslem, Hindu, Bud­ dh~s.t, Jewtsh and Chn~tian wors~1ppers to gat~er, pray and listen to each others scriptures. We dedicate this July ed1hon of our Ecumemcal Bulletin to look behmd the scenes so that other parish churches may join this historic process in future, perhaps using some ideas from these events. letter of encouragement from Arch­ MAKING THE PEACE IN DAREBIN: bishop George Pell was read. In this beautiful letter the Archbishop CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE spoke of the surprisingly large Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, East Thornbury and their neighbours, the Alawi common ground that Christians and Islamic Association of Victoria, met recently to discuss peace making in the Muslims share. He wrote "We both Darebin area of Melbourne's northern suburbs. Both communities are estab­ worship the one true God. We are lished within 200 metres of each other. both children of Abraham and strive to submit ourselves to God's plan. Over the past three years the Readings from the Koran and the We both honour Mary, the Mother of leaders of both these communities New Testament on the topic of peace Jesus and although we differ in our have been meeting. Friendship links were prayed. At the conclusion gifts understandings of who Jesus was, have been established. On important were exchanged. People then en­ we both revere him. We both await liturgical dates for both communi­ joyed supper together and were able the day of judgement and try to lead ties, gifts and greetings have been to meet each other not only as upright lives by way of regular shared. neighbours but also in a rernewed prayer and acts of charity and self-denial". The Archbishop also On Wednesday evening, 7th June, spirit of respect and enquiry. A spirit wrote of the sharing of common the first public meeting of both of solidarity in peace permeated the moral beliefs, especially regarding communities took place. In good entire evening. marriage and the family. numbers they gathered in Holy Towards the end of the evening a Spirit Church, East Thornbury for a Words of encouragement were forum titled "Making the Peace in given by representatives of the Darebin". Northcote-Thornbury Inter Church Council, the Merri Deanery and the The local school children from Darebin City Council. Holy Spirit school, together with the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry wel­ Further similar events will be comed all present in moving song planned in the future. The large and ceremony. numbers of people from a Lebanese background in both communities Mr Abraham Khalil Ibrahim, from certainly assists this common dia­ the Alawi Islamic Association gave a logue. presentation on peace from the Islamic perspective. He spoke of The scandal of Christians and stereotypes many people carry of Muslims in other parts of the world Muslim people and the importance living in a state of dangerous peace­ of peace making from the Islamic lessness certainly galvanises these faith. A presentation on peace from communities in Darebin to do all the Christian perspective followed they can to establish links of peace by Fr Christopher Prowse, Parish and mutual understanding in the Priest at East Thornbury. He spoke local area of Melbourne in the years of similarities regarding peace from ahead. Hopefully other Christian both traditions and then outlined the parishes and Islamic communities Troy Brickell of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry could follow the lead towards central contribution of Jesus Christ welcomes Muslim and Christian people to to the Christian notion of peace. Thornbury district by didgeridoo. peace-making offered here .. PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN GEELONG People of the Baha'i faith came to Buddhists, Sikhs, Moslems, Ortho­ sense of unity. People mingled over Monsignor Jim Murray and asked dox, Jewish, mainline Christian supper with promises to continue for a Ceremony of Religions at St churches and Aboriginal people. with spirited prayer and social Mary's "because your Pope is doing Sunday evening May 28 was chosen, gatherings. this in Rome". They chose StMary's one week before Christian Unity It is obvious that this Inter-Faith because they knew that unity and week. prayer service was the result of peace services had been held there The Interfaith Celebration of Peace many years of involvement together before, says Shirley Carroll, a mem­ and Reconciliation at St Mary's on in social justice and peace issues by ber of Melbourne;s Ecumenical May 28 was a "real growth experi­ people of faith in Geelong. There are Afffairs Commission. ence and a celebration of multicul­ many new migrants from many Geelong Catholics have been turalism", Shirley says. This prayer different faiths and countries. among leaders of community issues, service to celebrate diversity began "We want to get to know them", such as social justice rallies, praying with a welcome by aborigines to the says Shirley Carroll speaking as a for peace at Geelong West Town Hall Wathaurong land, a peace medita­ local Christian and parishioner at St and often led by Monsignor Jim tion by Raja Yoga, songs of peace by Mary's. Murray along with members of the the Baha'i children's choir, a lighting Other Melbourne Archdiocesan parish social justice group, in prayer of the peace candle. It continued parishes who are engaged in social and discussion. with prayers and chants by Hindu, justice questions locally could In response to the Baha'i request, a Sikh, Moslem, Buddhist, Catholic, consider this approach in trying to group was formed to draw up an Jewish, Orthodox and Baha'i leaders. reach out to people of the "Great order of service and to contact The song, I Am Australian, gave a Faiths", languages and cultures. MESSAGE FOR THE MEETING OF THE PEOPLE OF HOLY SPIRIT PARISH, EAST THORNBURY, Treasures AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ALAWI ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA of WEDNESDAY, 7th JUNE, 2000. Faith Dear Friends, Catholics and Muslims have more in common than is perhaps often realised. We both worship the one true God. We are both children of An Exhibition of Abraham and strive to submit ourselves to God's plan. We both honour Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and although we differ in our understandings the Art and History of who Jesus was, we both revere him. We both await the day of judge­ ment and try to lead upright lives by way of regular prayer and acts of of the Church es charity and self-denial. We also share important moral beliefs: the importance of marriage and St Patrick's Cathedral the family; the importance of respecting sacred symbols; and the impor­ tance of protecting the dignity of human life at all its stages. In this, we I are often at odds with the secular world around us and an important area 28th July - 13th August, 2000 of future cooperation between Muslims and Christians will be in working I together to protect and advance these values. ! Opening Times: In his various meetings with Muslim leaders in recent years, Pope John Mondays. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Paul II has emphasised the importance of a genuine desire to know each I I Fridays, 1O .OOam until 5.30pm other as the basis for developing Muslim-Christian dialogue. This open­ ness is a way of respon ding to God and true dialogue will be measured I I Saturdays and Sundays, by the ease of both partners with their own respective religions and their 10. 30am until 6.00pm ability to accept and discuss the differences between them, based on our common origin and common destiny in the Almighty and Merciful God. Entry $6.00 On the occasion of this important meeting in East Thornbury I send my warmest greetings and my strong encouragement. I would very much like (i ncludes catalogue) to see similar initiatives between local communities of Christians and Concessions for groups appiy Muslims in other parts of Melbourne and hope this meeting will be the first of many. With every good wish , For further information contact: Yours in the Lord, The Jubilee Office, +George Pell Archdiocese of Melbourne Archbishop of Melbourne. on 9926 5680 or 9926 5781 Sensitivity at St Patrick's Cathedral Sharp eyes of Melbourne Catho­ A theme was chosen out of the including religious commumt1es. lic ecumenists spotted an entry in United 0Jations Year of Thanksgiv­ various leaders, academics. theologi· the official Jubilee Year calendar. A ing for the Culture of Peace. So cal colleges, plus the Victorian· gov­ ceremony for collaboration among sacred texts and prayers of peace ernor, representatives of state gov­ religions was scheduled in Mel­ were to be special. At the draft stage, ernment departments and of course bourne at the same time as Pope meetings and dialogues were needed all people of faith and goodwilL John Paul was presiding at one in to involve participants in actually Rome. Hindu and Buddhist participant:: planning the event together. This is delighted in practising with sitar. Who was conducting it they essential, Margaret Mooney said. tabla, bell and drum, commenting asked. Blank. Can we do it then? Yes . Many things we take for granted that the cathedral was made for such We would involve the other Chris­ and cannot presume, required de­ an event.