Discover how five distinct religious traditions found common ground at St Patrick’s College’s Spirituality Day. This account of a multifaith panel reveals how Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Baha’i representatives unite to dismantle stereotypes and pave a shared pathway toward empathy, mutual respect, and ethical education.
Panellists at the St Patrick’s College staff Spirituality Day. Photos: supplied.
On a day dedicated to the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love, St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, hosted a Spirituality Day for approximately 180–200 teachers and staff. The cohort was divided into three rotating groups of roughly 60 people each. While one group explored the philosophy of Hope and another connected with First Nations perspectives on Earth and Love, the third immersed themselves in an interreligious panel focused on Faith. Hosted three times to ensure every staff member participated, this panel brought together representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Baha’i faiths to engage with the core questions defining modern spirituality.
The panel was coordinated by Kim Chong of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, who was also a panellist, on behalf the school’s organisers, and featured Parviz Deamer from the Australian Baha'i community; Kunal Patel, representing the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, Kemps Creek; Ahmet Ozturk, from Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA); and Rabbi George Mordecai, from Emanuel Synagogue, Sydney.
Participants at the St Patrick’s College staff Spirituality Day. Photos: supplied.
The dialogue was both expansive and deeply intimate. When asked what faith meant to them, the panellists echoed a shared sentiment that faith is not merely passive belief, but an active, living framework for navigating life's complexities.
Addressing the challenges facing faith today, speakers noted the rising tide of materialism and polarisation, contrasting these with positive examples of faith expression, such as intercommunal charity and grassroots social justice initiatives between different religious groups.
The rise of secularism in Australia provoked a nuanced discussion; panellists expressed concern over the potential loss of shared moral vocabularies, yet they shared excitement about how a secular society challenges faith communities to be more creative, reflective, authentic, inclusive, and articulate.
Staff gained rich insights into the lived experiences of these traditions as speakers outlined core rituals, from the meditative rhythmic prayers of Hinduism and Islam to the community-binding Shabbat of Judaism, the consultative gatherings of the Baha'i faith, and the anointing of the sick and the washing of the feet ritual on Holy Thursday in the Catholic faith. When asked to distil their traditions into a single message, the panel unified around the concepts of inherent human dignity, interconnectedness, and service to humanity. They defined love and hope not as abstract feelings, but as deliberate actions of compassion and resilience.
Panellists at the St Patrick’s College staff Spirituality Day. Photos: supplied.
Crucially for the audience, the panellists outlined what they hope to receive from educational institutions like St Patrick's College. They urged educators to foster religious literacy, dismantle stereotypes, and create safe spaces where young people can explore spiritual questions without judgment. Ultimately, the panel demonstrated that while theological pathways differ, the destination—a world built on mutual respect, empathy, and ethical responsibility—remains beautifully shared among them.
Kim Chong is the Media & Community Liaison at the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations in Sydney.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban Interfaith eBulletin
