In the spirit of Nostra Aetate, Garratt Publishing – in conjunction with Yarra Theological Union – invited you to a new four-session webinar series exploring other religious traditions from a Catholic perspective.

Continuing on from the 2022 Nostra Aetate webinars that introduced the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam, this new series engaged with a leader from each of these faiths. The webinars took the form of a ‘conversation’, and were hosted by a Catholic scholar well versed in inter-religious dialogue. 

At the Plenary Council Bishop Michael McKenna (Chair of the Commission on Interfaith and Ecumenical relationships) reminded the members of the Plenary Council that Ecumenical and Interfaith relations are not an optional extra for Catholics. This series will explore the richness that comes from such engagement. 

Every Christian is called to go out to encounter others, to dialogue with those who do not think the way we do, with those who have another faith, or who don’t have faith. To encounter all because we all have in common our having been created in the image and likeness of God. We can go out to encounter everyone, without fear.
Pope Francis (Speech to Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, 14 October 2013)

Participants deepen their sense of Catholic identity through their encounter with different faith traditions.
Welcoming Each Other, Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

These sessions were ideal for all Catholics across Australia – in particular, Catholic educators – as we increasingly welcome people from differing faiths into our school communities.

PROGRAM 

SESSION ONE: JUDAISM
A Conversation with Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio
Dr Mary Reaburn

SESSION TWO: HINDUISM
A Conversation with Swami Sunishthananda and Mrs Aradhana Ganguly
Rev Albano Da Costa

SESSION THREE: BUDDHISM
A Conversation with Venerable BomHyon Sunim (Biography)
Rev Dr John Dupuche

SESSION FOUR: ISLAM
A Conversation with a Associate Professor Zuleyha Keskin 
Rev Dr Patrick McInerney

HOSTS

Dr Mary Reaburn NDS
Mary is a Sister of Our Lady of Sion – an international congregation of religious women that has an emphasis on commitment to Jewish-Christian relations, biblical study and reflection, and the biblical imperative for justice and peace. She currently teaches Biblical Studies at Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne. Special areas of interest: Psalms, Wisdom Literature, and Daniel. Sr Mary is involved in Jewish Christian relations and is a member of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Council for Ecumenical and Interfaith relations.

Rev Albano Da Costa SVD
Fr Albano is a Divine Word Missionary priest. He is a lecturer at Yarra Theological Union in the Department of Theology: Mission and Ministry. He offers units such as Interreligious Dialogue in a Multireligious Society and A Comparative Study of Religions. He holds a Licentiate degree in Missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and a master’s degree in Philosophy from RDVV University, Jabalpur, India. Fr Albano has taught, ministered, and volunteered in pastoral ministry, and has engaged in numerous religious congregational and archdiocesan ministerial roles, as well as a board member of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. He is Dean of Studies at Dorish Maru College, located at Box Hill, Victoria.

Rev Dr John Dupuche PE
Rev Dr Dupuche has two major academic foci: spirituality and interfaith. These have led to significant academic and community involvement, as well as a wide-ranging list of publications and presentations in academia and for the wider media. BA(Hons), BD(Hons), GradDipHum, MA, PhD.

 

Rev Dr Patrick McInerney
Fr Patrick is a Columban missionary priest. He was assigned to Pakistan for over twenty years. He graduated from the Pontifical Institute for the Study of Arabic and Islamics in Rome (1986), the Melbourne College of Divinity (2003) and the Australian Catholic University (2009). Fr Patrick is the Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations. He is a member of various interfaith and academic organisations, participates in interfaith and multi-faith conferences, and gives talks on Islam, Christian-Muslim Relations and Interreligious Relations to a wide variety of audiences.