Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission (EIC): Diary Dates

UPCOMING COMMISSION SPONSORED EVENTS (Click on listed events to get more details)

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS (Click here to see other events on the Newsblog)

Interfaith Youth Pilgrimage (Sunday 13 July, 2008)

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Days in the Diocese Homestay Program (5-9 July, 9-14 July)

You can be a Homestay Host for World Youth Day--you don't have to be Catholic, or even Christian!--you just have to live in Melbourne and be a friendly and welcoming host!

World Youth Day is actually happening in Sydney, of course, but before that we are expecting as many as 25,000 international pilgrims between 16 and 35 years of age to visit Melbourne for the "Days in the Diocese" program, from 10th to 14th July.

All Melbournians can participate in this event through the Homestay program.

Click here to download a flyer with all the details, or contact the Melbourne WYD Homestay Hotline on 9412 8484 or go to their website at www.did08.com

(Back to Commission Events listing)
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NEWSLETTERS FROM THE COMMISSION

REPORTS OF PAST EVENTS

Pathways to Peace: the Ideals. JCMA Seminar(13 April 2008)
What do the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths mean when they talk about peace? A panel presentation followed by small group meetings and discussion, held at the Sidney Myer Asia Centre under the auspices of the University of Melbourne.

Click here for presentation by Bishop Christopher Prowse
Click here for presentation by Rabbi Jonathan Keren Black
Click here for presentation by Professor Abdullah Saeed

Commemoration of the Noble Birth of the Prophet (15 March 2008)
Click here for the report and photographs of the occasion

Catholic Muslim Youth Friendship night (9 March 2008)
Click here for the report and photographs of the occasion.

Report of the JCMA Women's Conference February 2008
Click here to download a report of the 2008 Jewish Christian and Muslim Conference for women.

Sixth International Abraham Conference, Melbourne University, August 26, 2007
Click here to go to report with pictures and downloadable copies of papers presented.

Launch of "Promoting Interfaith Relations": Some Guidelines for the parishes and agencies of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne (August 21, 2007)
Click here to go to full report with pictures and downloadable copies of the document)

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission and the Australian Intercultural Society (July 29, 2007)
Click here to go to full report with pictures and downloadable copy of the Memorandum

Australian Intercultural Society Intercultural Study Tour of Turkey (20 April - 4 May 2007)
Our Executive Officer, David Schutz, had the opportunity of travelling with the Australian Intercultural Society to Turkey for an Intercultural Study Tour in April/May of 2007. Read more here:
Download David's Travel Diary (Word Document)
Download David's Report of the Benefits of the Tour (Word Document)
View David's Photos (link to Flickr site)

The Inaugural JCMA Women’s Conference
February 12-14, 2007

Last week 44 women from many different backgrounds, Jews, Christians and Muslims, came together for 3 days and 2 nights to learn about each other’s faiths and to tell each other their own personal stories. Bonds of friendship were instantly formed, with stereotypes and preconceived ideas being shattered as we came to know each other and understand each other’s traditions and cultures. Conversations have begun and, as the theme of the conference, Continuing Conversations, suggests, they will go on as the thirst to learn more and get to know each other is strong. As women of the Abrahamic faiths we sang together, we danced together, we ate together and we shared artefacts relating to our personal faith journeys. We are all keen to continue our interfaith conversations in monthly discussion groups and an annual conference. A truly inspirational event.

Some comments from participants that were sent to the committee afterwards demonstrate the remarkable effect on us all.

“I watched with joy as the women, myself included, grew in the warmth of such love and commitment to the recognition of what was shared and how we can move forward together. What a privilege it was to be part of this.”

“I feel truly honoured to have been able to share in your goodness and spiritual searching.”

“One of my best experiences of working with others, out of a sense of vision and passion to create a difference.”

“I had a wonderful time and walk with a deeper sense of connectedness to other women and to people of other faiths.”

The conference was run by JCMA, Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia. Enquiries: Di Hirsh dhirsh1@bigpond.net.au .
Read a report on the ABC Encounter here or download the audio of the program here.

Archbishop Hart addresses Melbourne imams at Australian intercultural Society
2 November, 2006
Archbishop's Statement
Report by David
Report by AIS
Photographs

18 November 2005 12noon-2:30pm
Inaugural Meeting of the Dialogue between Catholics and Christians from Pentecostal and Evangelical Communities
Read here about this event

13 Nov 2005 2pm – 5pm.
10 In our times: Vatican II and Other Faiths
Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne
Read here about this event

"One Church and One Church only"?
An Ecumenical Reflection on the 40 years since the Vatican II Decree on Ecumenism
Sunday, November 28
This seminar, held in the Knox Room at the Thomas Carr Centre in East Melbourne, attracted an audience of 50 people highly involved in ecumenical relations in Melbourne. Fr Peter Cross gave the key note address on the Decree, asking the questions "What difference has it made?" and "What still needs to be done?". Other speakers included Most Rev. Frank Little, Archdeacon Philip Newman, Rev. Prof. Norman Young and Ms Maureen Postma.
Fr Peter Cross' Keynote Address
Rev Prof. Norman Young's response
Most Rev. Frank Little's reflection

How are we saved? Young Catholics and Lutherans Discuss the Doctrine of Justification
A report of the gathering of Lutherans and Catholics on October 17 2004 for a joint service to mark the 5th anniversary of the signing, in Augsburg, Germany, of a joint declaration on the doctrine of Justification. Another meeting will be hosted by the Catholic Youth at the Cathedral later this year. Proposed topic is "Eucharist".

Interfaith Symposium on "Forgiveness"
Report and Photographs
On Sunday, 8 August 2004 at the Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill, Bishop Christopher Prowse opened the Second Interfaith Symposium which was sponsored by the Catholic Interfaith Committee of the Archdiocese. The theme of the Symposium was ‘Forgiveness’, particularly appropriate at this juncture in history where a world of conflict and division calls all to forgive and to accept forgiveness.
The speakers shared the teaching and experience of forgiveness within their different religious traditions. They were Melissa Brickell (NATSICC); Rabbi Ralph Genende (College Rabbi at Mt Scopus and Congregational Rabbi of Beit Haron); Venerable Phuoc Tan (of the Quang Minh Buddhist Temple, Braybrook); Sheik Isse Musse (Imam of the West Melbourne Mosque). Fr John Dupuche, Chair of the
Catholic Interfaith Committee, led the Symposium, presided.
About 80 people attended the Symposium which was notable for the sense of vitality. The interfaith gatherings are a sign of hope for the future harmony of our community.