Multi-faith Prayers for Global Peace and Social Justice

Opening Address by Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian.

MacLaurin Hall, University of Sydney
Wednesday, 16 July 2008

It is with a deep sense of reverence that I welcome you in this historic MacLaurin Hall of the oldest University, the University of Sydney, for today’s Multi-faith Prayer gathering.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are assembled, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and on this auspicious occasion I pay my respects to their elders past and present.

We are gathered here during World Youth Day 2008 as tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims from the far corners of the world have come to our welcoming shores.

The multitude of pilgrims will find that whatever country they are from, whatever language they speak, there is an Australian who shares it with them.

They have come here to express their faith, to seek their own peace and to share their own aspirations in celebrating the gift of life they have been given through creation, each of them in their own way.

Through our prayers here today we join in their invocation in our own individual ways to celebrate the gift of life and our capacity to live together in harmony;

To know and accept the different beliefs, the different faiths we have and respect each others’ right to that difference.

To unite as Australians with diverse religious beliefs, yet having a deep understanding of the need for all creation to co-exist in peace and to live in harmony with each other.

I hope that the pilgrims will take with them this powerful message and spread it around the world. I am sure you will find this event uplifting and memorable.

Closing

I thank the following people and organizations for their invaluable contributions to organizing this event for without them this event would not have happened.

His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian representing the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand

Rabbi Paul Jacobson, representing the NSW Board of Deputies and Emanuel Synagogue and for drafting the moving affirmation we jointly recited.

Father Zeki Zitoun and Mr Hanibal Bisseh representing the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchal Vicariate of Australia and New Zealand

Father Claude Mostowik and Reverend Dr Ann Wansbrough representing the NSW Ecumenical Council

Father Peter Joseph representing the Maronite Eparchy of Australia
Ms Judith Navidi, Ms Martha Gouniai and Ms Ariana Brdarevic representing the Baha’i Council of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory
Ms Susan Bures representing the Great Synagogue

Mr Vijai Singhal representing the Hindu Council of Australia

Imam Yahya Safi and Mr Ali Abdallah representing the Lebanese Moslem Association

Venerable Phuoc Dat representing Phuoc Hue Temple

Reverend Gurjit Singh and Ms Jasmeen Malhotra representing the Sikh Kirtan Prachar Mission of Australia

Ms Hutokshi Hira, Mr Karl Desai and Mr Noshir Sachinwalla representing the Australian Zoroastrian Association

Again, thank you all for being here with us today. Please join us for refreshments, conversation and fellowship.