Catholic Outlook Magazine | Lent & Easter | 2023 Issue

A woman in Abu Dhabi
waves the flag of
Pope Francis during
his visit to the United
Arab Emirates in 2019.
Image: Shutterstock.
Interfaith: bringing others ‘into the tent’
STORY CHRISTINA GRETTON
The Interfaith Commission of the Diocese of
Parramatta is a recently formed group with the
goal of building networks with people of other
religions. Members of the Commission explain the
power of listening and ‘letting others in’.
“All I can say is our poor world needs all peoples to work
together for our environment and the wellbeing of all,”
observes Lorraine Murphy, a member of the Interfaith
Commission in the Diocese of Parramatta.
Deep, respectful listening has been the key to
Lorraine’s success in creating bonds with people
of other faiths and she describes the Women’s
Interfaith Network she currently belongs to. “There
are two participants from each of the following faiths:
Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Bahá'í, Buddhist, along
with Christians of Anglican, Uniting and Catholic
Communities,” she says. The group nominates
a speaker to speak on a topic from her faith’s
perspective – “uninterrupted,” Lorraine is at pains to
point out, followed by a Q&A.
Sr Colleen Foley OSU is another member of the
Commission. “Jesus prayed that we all may be one,
to know the love of God for all God’s children,” she
reminds us.
“We are one human family, living on the one planet.
Everything is connected. People of faith have a
special role in bringing love and justice to our world
because we believe in God’s love and actively try
to be a reflection of that love wherever we are. We
need to walk together to make this a reality.”
In this regard, Sr Colleen refers to the example that
Pope Francis sets when he seeks to bring global
religious leaders together on issues impacting our
world. “Pope Francis is leading us by his words and
actions,” she says, referring to the document he
signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi on Interfaith Relations.
Closer to home, the Interfaith group ‘Voices for
PoWer’ is lobbying for better outcomes in Western
Sydney for heat and energy.
She refers to the image of our Church as a ‘tent’
promoted by the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops document
“Enlarge the space of your tent” (Is 54:2) and how
well the Asian Synod of Bishops, SynodBangkok, has
expressed what is understood by Interfaith dialogue.
“The image of the ‘Church as tent’ projects it to be
a place of refuge that can be expanded to all in a
spirit of inclusivity,” agrees Sr Colleen. “It expresses
that God can pitch His tent wherever the Spirit of
God blows, including places of violence, unrest, and
suffering. Most importantly, in the tent, there is room
for everyone; no one is excluded, for it is a home to
everyone. In this process, those who in the past felt
'left out' now realise that they have a home in this
tent – a sacred and safe space.”
Lorraine considers Australians blessed for the
opportunity for Interfaith connections. “We are so
fortunate in Australia, and especially in Western
Sydney, to have the opportunity to get to know and
experience this diversity,” she says. “We are one
human family. All must be included.”
Find out more about the Synod of Bishops at
www.synod.va
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