Interreligious dialogue has become a cornerstone of the Catholic Church’s mission in the 21st century, particularly in multicultural and multi-faith contexts like Western Sydney. Inspired by the principles of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council’s groundbreaking declaration on interreligious relations, the Church continues to build bridges across religious divides.
On 1 July 2025, this commitment was lived out by senior students at John XXIII Catholic College in Stanhope Gardens, Western Sydney, by inviting the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, members of the Interfaith Commission Diocese of Parramatta, and Together for Humanity, to conduct workshops on interreligious dialogue at their school for the day. It was organised by John XXIII Catholic College Vice Captain, Ibrahim Asif Shah Khan, a Muslim student who is a passionate advocate for interreligious dialogue. Students from St John Paul II College also joined.
The workshop offered by the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, with the Interfaith Commission Diocese of Parramatta, was ‘Interfaith in the Catholic Church’. It provided students with a foundation for engaging in dialogue through theoretical and practical teachings of the Catholic Church, drawing from key documents such as Nostra Aetate, Dialogue and Mission, and the Columban Centre’s resources such as The Sydney Statement. The workshop also provided real-world examples of interfaith dialogue and its necessity in contemporary society, how we might best engage with believers from different faiths for the common good, and a game centred around The Golden Rule.
The Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, part of the global St Columban’s Mission Society, has long been at the forefront of interreligious engagement in Australia. Their mission is rooted in relationship-building, education, and advocacy. At John XXIII College, the Centre’s representative, Kim Chong, engaged students in examples of honest, respectful conversations that highlight common values and explore differences in constructive ways. By presenting Islam and Christianity not as competing ideologies but as faiths with shared moral ideals, students were encouraged to see others as fellow seekers of truth and goodness.
The Interfaith Commission Diocese of Parramatta plays a critical role in fostering dialogue and community partnerships. Western Sydney is home to some of Australia’s most religiously and culturally diverse population. Recognising its responsibility to model inclusion and collaboration, the Diocese has included interreligious dialogue in its Pastoral Plan. The diocese’s Interfaith Commission supports schools like John XXIII College in implementing initiatives that promote respectful engagement with people of all faiths, fostering a spirit of unity in diversity.
The Together for Humanity Foundation, a long-time partner in interfaith education, highlighted these efforts with its team of multi-faith presenters from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths – Rabbi Zalman Kastel, founder of Together for Humanity, Sebastian Duhau, coordinator of Catholic Youth Paramatta, and Calisha Bennett, founder of Grounded and regular panellist for Together for Humanity. Together, they shared personal stories, led workshops that address prejudice, cultural misunderstanding, and social cohesion, and answered students’ questions on Mary in the Bible and Quran. Through these interactions, students learned not just about other religions, but from people of those religions, which helps humanise unfamiliar beliefs and traditions.
These workshops were not simply about religious literacy – they were about transformation. Students were invited to reflect on their own assumptions, grow in compassion, and gain confidence in engaging across lines of faith and culture. The experience aligns deeply with the Catholic ethos of human dignity, peace, and solidarity.
In an increasingly global and interdependent world, the interfaith initiatives at John XXIII College model what the Church hopes to achieve more broadly: a society rooted in dialogue, mutual respect, and the recognition that our shared humanity is more powerful than our differences. Through intentional engagement with the Catholic Church’s teaching on interreligious dialogue, schools like John XXIII are preparing the next generation to be bridge-builders in a pluralistic world. At a time when polarisation and misunderstanding are often amplified by global and local tensions, programs like these are crucial for promoting social harmony and respect. These workshops educate students not only in faith and academics, but also in empathy, intercultural understanding, and global citizenship. The benefits of interfaith education are already evident in the positive relationships among the students and will continue to bear fruit in their future careers and engagement in society.
Ms Kim Chong, Media & Community Liaison, Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations
