In Nostra Aetate, The Church’s Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, the document states, “The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions” (p.2). Furthermore, The Church strongly encourages dialogue and collaboration with followers of other religions. With this in mind, it was a wonderful experience for all who attended the Year 10 Reflection Day held at The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion last week. First and foremost, The Great Stupa is a Buddhist temple regaled in magnificent artworks, mosaics, sculptures and relics. At its heart, though, is the longing for harmony and dialogue among all faiths. One of the first examples depicting this was a sculpture of the Menorah, the seven branched candelabra associated with the Jewish festival of Chanukah, placed in a garden surrounded by fruit trees of great spiritual and symbolic significance to Islam.

“She [the Catholic Church] regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teaching which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all.” (NA, P.2)

While being guided around the grounds and the temple of The Great Stupa, these rays of Truth were beaming forth from many angles. Listening to the stories of the Buddhas throughout the ages and what they stood for. Having the many sculptures and statues being explained to us. Being led in meditation. All these experiences helped to spark the light of this Truth that can be presented in different ways but is always constant.

November is the month of remembering. The month begins with All Saints and All Souls Day. Days where we remember and pray for those special people who have gone before us, both known and unknown. This week Australia, along with many countries, observes Remembrance Day with one minute’s silence at 11am on the 11^th day of the 11^th Month. Remembrance Day commemorates the day, November 11, 1918, when the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. Throughout history there have been conflicts between people of differing faiths fuelled by economic interests, thirst for power and geopolitical plans often hiding behind a veil of religion. According to Pope Francis in his autobiography “Hope”, faith fosters dialogue, service, solidarity and hope and he criticises those who try to misuse religion to seek power.

This November, let us all remember to enter into dialogue with open hearts and open minds with those whom we disagree with. Let us remember those who we hold dear, whose memories will always be with us. Let us remember those who make the ultimate sacrifice for their loved ones and for their homes. Let us remember to make time for others, especially when we seem to have little time to spare. And we pray that in our times of need, God will remember us.

Prayer of St Francis

Loving God,

Make me an instrument of Your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Amen.