MORNING MULTI-FAITH PRAYER
This morning's prayer was simple and profound. Each of the four young people read a text from his/her faith's sacred text in that text's language and then a translation where appropriate. Each reading was followed by a short silence. The fourth reading was followed by reflective music for a length of time.
CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM - young people dialogue
Four young people - Sadiq and Mahsheed Ansari, a brother and sister Muslim; Judith Levitan, an orthodox Jew and Chantelle Ogilvie, a Catholic - spoke honestly and enthusiastically about their faith journey and their involvement with inter-faith dialogue. The session was facilitated by Trish Madigan OP.
Each of the young people gave a brief presentation. The discussion facilitiated by Sr Trish became so "organic" that the young people virtually took over and a very natural question-answer conversation ensured. Both the prayer and the dialogue were excellent models for the assembly participants to experience.
COMMENT: Listening within the context of the three faith traditions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - provided a rich tapestry of belief as we heard young people give witness to their faith journey.
The four young people in dialogue witnessed to the deepening of their faith through the awakening knowledge of the "others" faith traditions. They each spoke articulately of their own faith journey of belief and demonstrated the embrace of the others' faith as a sign of maturation of their own.
Our hearts were moved in wonder, respect and reverence of the mystery of God active and alive in their youthful openness and passion. Our young speakers were real signs of hope and a contradiction to our society, which can readily exploit and condemn the energy of a younger generation.
Inter-faith dialogue was encouraged in each of us. There was a collective recognition that the blessings contained in such an opportunity were demonstrated before us in these fine young speakers. A "graced" time where the authority of religious experience could not be questioned; a very moving experience.
Wayne Stanhope OCarm, Melbourne
pictured, above left, the sacred texts of the assembly's three focus faiths, the Scriptures, the Torah and the Koran
above right, from left, Sadiq Ansari, Chantelle Ogilvie, Trish Madigan OP, Judith Levitan and Mahsheed Ansari
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
and
with Prof. Gary Bouma (right)
While religion in Australia is personal, peripheral, undemanding and part of the background, Prof. Bouma argues that itis changing, becoming more diverse, revitalised and is differently located. It is critical that these changes are understood as they challenge Christian communities by creating a different social and cultural context for ministry and different opportunities for building community.
Prof. Bouma concluded that Christianity was no longer normal - but neither is the secular - and that we live in a marketplace where choice prevails and identities change. In this marketplace, choosing is not permanent, choice is often partial and there is no stock standard Islam, Christianity or other belief.
He said that being faithful today means
Being a person of faith alongside others - making and sharing space for others
Being a person of a particular faith - knowing it, enjoying it, being articulate and with a capacity to listen
Being faithful in your own way - taking responsibility for self and being able to negotiating creatively.
COMMENT: Gary Bouma's two sessions were presented from the heart; he has lived, breathed and lectured the contents of his talks all his life, and he knew how to get our attention from the beginning.
He provided us with the statistics relating to religions practised in Australia, this information taken from the two most recent Census documents. From these Gary sees revitalisation and resurgence of religion, and the diversity of religions. These statistics linked well with the title of the Assembly: Australian Religious in a Multifaith Society - Reality, Gift, Challenge.
The reality is that there are many faiths practised in Australia; while this is a challenge it is also a great gift. Gary's suggestion of dialogue is so simple an approach - listening with respect, accepting difference, sharing one's own faith, being oneself can so easily achieve so much. Knowing 'the other' provides the opportunity to remove fear and prejudice.
Dialogue I can eagerly move to, but I can't see myself using Facebook and Twitter as Gary suggested!
Maureen Watson PBVM, Wagga Wagga
A SERVICE OF THE WORD
To end the formal part of the second day, a service of the word was held - a celebration of the feast of John the Baptist. Scripture scholar Frank Moloney SDB delivered a homily, reminding assembly attendees that liturgical celebrations are not exercises in nostalgia. The birth of John the Baptist celebration was not just recalling that about 2000 years ago a child was marvellously born to Zechariah and Elizabeth.
"The Church celebrates these 'feasts' because they say continue something to us as we celebrate the 'memory'," he said.
Fr Frank concluded:
as we celebrate John the Baptist, we are summoned to recognise that each of us, and each of our Congregations, called forth by God through our charismatic founders, is never an end in itself.
There is another passage about John the Baptist, found in the Gospel of John. Perhaps we could close with that.
In the Prologue to the Gospel of John we find: "There was a man sent by God, whose name was John. He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light so that all who believe in him might have life" (John 1:5).
Let each one of us here this evening replace the name "John" with our own name, and the name of our Congregation, remembering on this day of John the Baptist: "There was a person sent by God, whose name is ................ This person is not the light, but comes to bear witness to the light so that all who believe in him might have life."
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