IRD coordinator, facilitated an Interreligious dialogue awareness session to catholic parishioners, promoting understanding and unity across faiths. - Photo: Pescila Magdalin.
Facilitated an Interreligious Dialogue Awareness session for Catholic Parishioners, and among primary school students at Lautoka.
Aim: promotes mutual understanding, respect, and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
On the 26th of October 2025, within the Catholic Church last Sunday at two masses, I had an excellent opportunity to foster such dialogue to the priests, parishioners and visitors through inclusive sermons, prayers, and community outreach that emphasize love and unity, and respect for all religions. Both the masses were celebrated by Fr. Sanjay Kizhakkinedath and Fr. Veremo who joined later to listen to my sharing on Interreligious Dialogue.
On the very next day, I was among St. Thomas primary school students (year 6, 7and 8) and their teachers to create awareness on interreligious dialogue. I shared to the students a PowerPoint presentation that highlighted the cultural exchange, and discussions on shared moral values such as love and unity, respect and peacebuilding on the practical IRD work done in Suva with different religions. These activities help children appreciate diversity and develop empathy at an early age. A one/two-minute videos were shared by the students on what they had learned from this inspiring session. I introduced “The golden rule poster” to the parishioners and students, this explains very well which consists of 13 different sacred texts which has same spiritual values, mutual understanding, Peace and compassion that relates with people from different religions. The students found the session very educational and took notes during my sharing to deepen their understanding of faith and harmony.
The session covered the following key points to the parishioners and students:
- Understanding religious dialogue: It was presented as a process of mutual listening, respect, and collaboration among people of different faiths.
- Clarifying misconceptions: Participants were reminded that dialogue is not about conversion or debate but about fostering understanding and peace.
- Practical approaches to outreach: I discussed ways of engaging other faith communities through community service, shared values, and open communication.
- Importance of dialogue: Emphasis was placed on promoting unity, reducing prejudice, and strengthening peaceful coexistence in our society.
Participants/members/priests were attentive and expressed a strong desire to continue learning and engaging with people of other faiths.
I plan to follow up with possible interfaith meetings, more resources or collaborative activities that will deepen the spirit of dialogue and cooperation among members.
Through Sunday gatherings and early education, the Catholic Church can build bridges of peace and foster harmony in society. Among primary school students, teaching interreligious dialogue helps nurture tolerance and empathy from an early age.
I am very thankful to the parish priests and the teachers from St. Thomas Primary school for allowing me to share such an informative and enlightening session on Interreligious dialogue to the members and students. At the end, I handed out a copy of “The Golden Rule Poster” that supports the Interfaith dialogue on same spiritual values, mutual understanding, Peace and compassion. The teachers then decided to place it at their prayer corners in every classroom as reminders during religion classes.
Pescila Magdalin.
Columban Interreligious Dialogue Coordinator (IRD)
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