Visit by Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald

Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald delivers public talk on interreligious dialogue at St Patrick’s Cathedral Cloisters Hall in Parramatta.

Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald delivers public talk on interreligious dialogue at St Patrick’s Cathedral Cloisters Hall in Parramatta. Photo: Diocese of Parramatta

The Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations was quick to accept the offer from Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, a long-time friend of the Centre, former President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and one of the church’s leading exponents of interreligious dialogue, for a couple of talks during his recent family visit to Australia. 

With the Diocese of Parramatta, on Wednesday evening, 8 May 2024, we co-hosted a public talk.

In his address, “Interreligious Dialogue ‘in our Day’: Sixty Years after Nostra Aetate”, Cardinal Fitzgerald gave a brief introduction to this prophetic document and then provided examples from around the world of the four different types of interreligious dialogue.

After the talk, Fr Patrick McInerney engaged him in dialogue, and then opened the conversation to a Q&A with the audience.

A written report of the event is available here.

The video of the event is available here:

In addition, on Saturday 11 May 2024, the Cardinal provided a Professional Development workshop for the Centre, to which we invited the members of the Interfaith Commission Diocese of Parramatta, members and heads of diocesan organisations, and representatives of other Christian churches, about 20 people in all. Input, group work, dialogue, and spiritual conversations enabled a deeper engagement with Cardinal Fitzgerald. His words, presence, life-time commitment, and example have inspired and encouraged us in our efforts at promoting interfaith relations in the diocese and beyond. 

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney, Director, Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations.

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