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

As Australian Catholics, we increasingly engage others from differing faiths – in our everyday life, in our local communities, and especially in our Catholic schools.

‘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)

‘Students can 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

Catholic educators will find these sessions ideal as we increasingly welcome people from differing faiths into our school communities. Accreditation for Professional Development hours may be available on completion of the series.

These sessions will also appeal to all Catholics across Australia, offering important understandings to help interfaith engagement and enhance relationships with those of other faith traditions.

Over four sessions, we will explore God, Foundational Beliefs, Women, and Learning from Each Other.

As Catholics, it is incumbent on us to understand the religious traditions of our neighbours. This will provide a level of comfort as we engage with each other, and welcome each other. 

 

 

PROGRAM 

SESSION ONE
God
Hindu perspective: Rev Albano Da Costa
Buddhist perspective: Rev Dr Thien Nguyen
Jewish perspective: Dr Mary Reaburn
Muslim perspective: Rev Dr Patrick McInerney

SESSION TWO
Foundational Beliefs
Hindu perspective: Rev Albano Da Costa
Buddhist perspective: Rev Dr Thien Nguyen
Jewish perspective: Dr Mary Reaburn
Muslim perspective: Rev Dr Patrick McInerney

SESSION THREE: 
The Place of Women Historically and Today
Hindu perspective: Rev Albano Da Costa
Buddhist perspective: Rev Dr Thien Nguyen
Jewish perspective: Dr Mary Reaburn
Muslim perspective: Rev Dr Patrick McInerney

SESSION FOUR
Learning from Each Other – What Christians/Catholics Can Learn From...
Hindus: Rev Albano Da Costa
Buddhists: Rev Dr Thien Nguyen
Jews: Dr Mary Reaburn
Muslims: Rev Dr Patrick McInerney

PRESENTERS 

Rev Albano Da Costa
Fr Albano 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.

Dr Mary Reaburn nds
Mary is a Sister of Our Lady of Sion – an international congregation of religious women which has an emphasis on 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 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..

Rev Dr Thien Nguyen
Fr Thien is a Catholic priest, belonging to the Society of the Divine Word. Born in Vietnam, Fr Thien came to Australia in 1998 to pursue further studies in linguistics and theology. Thien graduated with a Master of Applied linguistics in 2000 from Macquarie University; Bachelor of Theology in 2003, Master of Theological Studies in 2004, Master of Theology in 2008 from Melbourne College of Divinity; and doctoral degree in religious studies in 2019 from Monash University. After being ordained in 2004, Fr Thien has been involved in parish ministries, interreligious dialogue and intercultural relations. At the present, Fr Thien works at the Janssen Spirituality Centre in Boronia and teaches interreligious dialogue at the Yarra Theological Union.