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Interfaith fellowship helps counter fears
Inspired and dedicated young women have gathered at Australian Catholic University's (ACU National) Canberra Campus in a spirit of interfaith fellowship.
Supported by the Office for the Participation of Women and the Council for Australian Catholic Women, within the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, they are studying the University’s Graduate Certificate in Interfaith Dialogue, introduced in 2006.
“I work with refugees who come from all sorts of countries and religions,” said Clare Grantham from Josephite Community Aid.
“I wanted to come to learn about dialoguing with them, to understand where they are coming from, and to learn to live together and grow awareness among people brought up in Australia, to help counter fear of the unknown.”
Madeleine Marson from Magis Ignatian Youth Network, described interfaith dialogue as “the future, an area of religion with which the church has to be engaged”.
Teacher Katherine Dolenec of Mount Carmel High School has been supported by the Catholic Education Office of Wollongong to attend. “I am from the Macarthur region of Sydney with a lot of Indigenous and Muslim students,” Katherine said.
For Amanda Turner of the Parramatta Diocese, undertaking the course provided an opportunity to help counter conflict caused by religious differences.
“I think religion is becoming more important in every day life,” Amanda said. “In the news, you see the divisive side. This is going to be a big issue for society going forward, working together for a whole and healthy planet.”
Visit the University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue for more information.
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