The Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations (CCCMR) and the Interfaith Commission Diocese of Parramatta are collaborating on three interfaith consultations for the Synod. The first was held at Blacktown on Tuesday 13 June; the second will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall, Parramatta, on Tuesday 27 June; and the third in St Patrick’s Parish, Guildford, on Wednesday 12 July.
These are very important conversations. As the Synod will shape the direction of the Church in Western Sydney for years to come, it is important that we Catholics reflect on our responsibility to the wider multi-religious society of Western Sydney among whom we live, work, study, play and pray.
Fr Patrick McInerney, Director of the CCCMR, said that if the Church is truly synodal, then it is not just lay faithful, priests and bishop walking one path together, but it is also Catholics walking one path together with people of other faiths. If Catholics talk only among ourselves – 17% of the world’s population – we risk being an echo chamber, hearing our own voices, and missing out on what God is saying to the other 83% of the world’s population. This stark reality provided the basic question for our consultation: how do Catholics engage with believers from other religions?
Fr Patrick spoke also of interfaith, as “the new thing” that God is bringing about in our time. He said it is actually “old”, as it was introduced to the church by Pope Saint Paul VI nearly 60 years ago. However, very few Catholics know of it. It remains a “hidden treasure”. This provided other questions: what is Catholic Church teaching on interfaith relations? How can we promote this teaching in parishes, schools, catechesis, and adult faith education? Can the CCCMR provide courses and resources?
Finally, Fr Patrick shared some statistics. Sydney is the most Muslim city in Australia, the most Hindu city in Australia, the second-most Buddhist city in Australia, the second-most Jewish city in Australia, and has the largest population of Baháʼí’s of any Australian city. This religious diversity is most pronounced in Western Sydney, where it is multiplied many times over with different religions in different areas. Again, our challenge as Catholics is, how are we being called to engage with this religious diversity? What can we learn from it? How can we best contribute to it?
To make the point that we need to listen to other voices, the organisers arranged for Hindu and Muslim guest speakers to address the Catholic audience and to share their perspectives on interfaith and how Hindus and Catholics and Muslims and Catholics could work together. Chand Chadha is the president of the Sri Mandir Temple in Auburn and spoke of the commonalities between Hindus and Christians. Firdousi Obeidallah, the Managing Director of the House of Sakinah, spoke of the commonalities between Muslims and Christians. They will also speak at the Parramatta consultation, and other speakers have been engaged for the Guildford consultation.
After each talk, we had a round of “spiritual conversation”. We responded to the question: how are Catholics called to engage with believers from other faiths?
Participants were surprised to discover the many commonalities between Hindus and Christians, and between Muslims and Christians. This was very different from their expectations. It highlighted the importance of getting to know one another directly, not just through media. One major issue from the consultation is: we have benefitted from this consultation, but how can we get other Catholics to reach out, encounter, dialogue with people of other faiths? Face-to-face meeting is important, as we learned during the COVID lockdown. How can we facilitate this transformative experience for Catholics in parishes? Can we arrange a series of talks? Can we arrange an interfaith pilgrimage? These were some of the questions canvassed.
The two guest speakers stressed that mercy, compassion, love, self-sacrifice and forgiveness are common values in our respective traditions. The point was made in discussion that often we show these traits only to the members of our own communities. However, people in need are human beings, regardless of their race, gender, or religious affiliation. We need to find ways of working together in response to social needs. The example was given of the Bishop, the members of the Interfaith Commission, and the staff of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations making a solidarity visit to the Turkish mosque and contributing to the Emergency Earthquake appeal. Why is this exceptional? Should it not be the normal response to human tragedy? How can we encourage greater collaboration between believers from difference religions on common social issues?
The final round of spiritual conversation sought to deepen the conversation, to build consensus, and to expand our tent by suggesting personal, practical, ambitious and strategic ways of promoting interfaith relations in the Diocese of Parramatta. These suggestions will be collated, edited and submitted for further discernment in the ongoing Diocesan Synod process.
These interfaith consultations are an important opportunity to listen to the voices of others, to each other, and above all, to the Holy Spirit. We can make breakthroughs in learning about what we have in common, working together for the common good, and promoting harmony, peace and justice in this marvellous, multicultural, multi-religious society of Western Sydney that we call home.
Come! Listen! Learn! Share!
In response to Bishop Vincent’s invitation that all in the diocese engage with the upcoming Diocesan Synod, the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and the Diocesan Interfaith Commission will be co-hosting a series of consultations on how we are called to walk together with believers from other religions. All are welcome to join in the consultations sessions:
- Tuesday 27 June from 6.30pm to 9pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall, Parramatta – tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/synod_interfaith_consults_parramatta
- Wednesday 12 July from 6.30pm to 9pm at St Patrick’s Parish, Guildford – tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/synod_interfaith_consultation_guildford
Download the flyer for the upcoming interfaith consultations.
Submissions for the Synod
The Diocese of Parramatta is keen to hear from as many people as possible in the lead-up to the Diocesan Synod. Submissions are being received until 31 July 2023.
Two deanery consultations are being held – all are invited.
- Saturday 17 June from 6.30pm to 9pm at St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary School Marayong
- Saturday 24 June from 6.30pm to 9m at Holy Spirit Primary School, St Clair.
To register to attend and/or to make a submission to the Diocesan Synod go to parracatholic.org/synod2023
Fr Patrick McInerney is the Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, located in the Diocese of Parramatta.
