The Hand of Welcome: Hospitality in our Three Faiths
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Email15.07.2011
The above title was the theme for the eighth residential conference of the Jewish Christian Muslim Association in Australia which was held at Pallotti College, Millgrove, Victoria from Sunday 3rd July until Wednesday 6th July, 2011. I am a member of the Columban Mission Institute’s Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations and attended the conference for the first time. I was impressed at the welcoming environment at the college and the manner in which the theme was lived out in the daily rapport among the participants.
Each of the three faiths took turns in leading the daily contemplation, the study of texts, the question time, the small group discussions and the prayer of their faiths which was observed by the others. The sharing of texts gave us new insights into our own faiths and listening to personal stories of faith and conversions were moving moments. Different cultures as well as faiths have different emphases on hospitality and its limits. The practical elements of hospitality were shared with stories about care of asylum seekers, revival of hospitality at a Neighbourhood House and a young Jewish woman’s outreach to a rural Aboriginal community through Keren Tuch Jewish Aid. Each of our faiths have something to share and learn from the way we care for the other and Fr. Brian left knowing that he has new friends in other faiths.
Fr Brian Vale is a staff member of the Columban Mission Institute in Sydney.
Read another article by Fr Brian Vale: The cherry blossom tree
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