Scarboro Missions Interfaith Journey

By Paul McKenna
January 2004

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Are you surprised that Catholic priests are involved in interfaith dialogue? There should be no surprises here. Since the early decades of the 20th Century, priests and religious around the world have been seriously and profoundly involved in interfaith dialogue. Most celebrated among these are Thomas Merton, Henri Le Saux and Bede Griffiths. Much of this early dialogue focused on inter-religious spirituality and theological study.

"If all the religious traditions worked together to combat the brokenness in our world, there would be a tremendous outpouring of goodness and love, of compassion and mercy, of forgiveness and reconciliation, and of justice, respect and dignity for all. The result would be universal peace."

Scarboro missioner Fr. Raymond O'Toole

And then came the "Niagara Falls" breakthrough of the Second Vatican Council in which the Church officially recognized the presence of grace, truth and holiness in other religions.

Since then, priests all over the world have embraced dialogue in creative and courageous ways, and on many levels-through prayer, academic study, social justice, global development, and intercultural and East-West dialogue.

Today, interfaith dialogue is a key emphasis of Scarboro Missions' work. Scarboro priest and lay missioners walk in other lands, celebrating God's presence in the life, history, culture and faiths of the people among whom they serve. And they are transformed by this experience. Scarboro Missions' work in interfaith dialogue reflects the witness of Pope John Paul II and the Church's official teaching that dialogue is a vital and integral function of mission.

Paul McKenna is the coordinator of Scarboro Missions' Interfaith Desk.

Fr. Gerald Curry presents Scarboro¹s Golden Rule poster to Fr. Paul MacNeil and Sr. Millie MacNeil, chaplains at St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.

Fr. Gerald Curry presents Scarboro¹s Golden Rule poster to Fr. Paul MacNeil and Sr. Millie MacNeil, chaplains at St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.

J.W. Windland of the Encounter World Religions Centre in Guelph displays and explains sacred objects from the world¹s religions to Scarboro priest and lay missioners. Toronto.

J.W. Windland of the Encounter World Religions Centre in Guelph displays and explains sacred objects from the world¹s religions to Scarboro priest and lay missioners. Toronto.

Fr. Brian Swords visits with a Buddhist monk in Tibet.

Fr. Brian Swords visits with a Buddhist monk in Tibet.

In Guyana, a nation of primarily Hindus, Muslims and Christians, Fr. David Warren visits with Fr. Paramaivam Stanislaus Arul, a Jesuit priest from India and the founder of an interfaith house of prayer in Port Mourant.

In Guyana, a nation of primarily Hindus, Muslims and Christians, Fr. David Warren visits with Fr. Paramaivam Stanislaus Arul, a Jesuit priest from India and the founder of an interfaith house of prayer in Port Mourant.

A Muslim youth speaker at the World Youth Day interfaith event in Toronto, co-sponsored by Scarboro Missions and the Toronto Muslim community. Seated to her left are Abdul Patel, an imam (spiritual leader) within the Muslim community, and Scarboro missioner Fr. Ray O¹Toole.

A Muslim youth speaker at the World Youth Day interfaith event in Toronto, co-sponsored by Scarboro Missions and the Toronto Muslim community. Seated to her left are Abdul Patel, an imam (spiritual leader) within the Muslim community, and Scarboro missioner Fr. Ray O¹Toole.

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