Resources for Friday of Catholic Schools Week 2013 can be found on page 24-25 of the Resources Booklet and below you will find the resources adapted for use with data projectors.
Thought for the Day
Today is the Feast of St Brigid and the first day of spring in our tradition. It is day to be grateful for the many ways in which we are blessed. Brigid recognised the presence of God in her life in two particular ways; she could see God in nature and in the poor. Nature points to the wonder, beauty and mystery of the divine presence inviting us to learn from its seasons and rhythms. Every spring offers the hope of renewal and speaks of the God of life who wants to shed light in our hearts. Also Brigid recognised that in Jesus who was born poor among the poor God is speaking to us and challenging us to reach out to those in any kind of need and to those on the margins for whatever reason. If our school community is closed to such people then we are failing to share the good news that everyone is invited to God’s table.
The Feast of St Brigid Resources
Interfaith– We Reach Out
Nostra Aetate – Decree on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian religions
‘The Church believes that Christ who is our peace has through his cross reconciled Jews and Gentiles and made them one in himself’. Ephesians 2: 14-16
We recognise that people belong to different kinds of families have different coloured skin, different likes and dislikes, different political opinions and different experiences of life. So too, each religion has its own history, set of beliefs, moral code and acts of worship. The following chart summarises the main differences between the five major world religions. Although there has been a lot of conflict between religions in the past, today all the major religions are working to understand one another better and to build a world where people can live together in peace.
| Religion | Christianity | Islam | Hinduism | Buddhism | Judaism |
| Followers | 2100 million | 1600 million | 900 million | 400 million | 18 million |
| Sacred text | Bible | Qur’an | Vedas | Tripitaka/Mahayana/ Sutras | Tanakh (Torah) |
| Moral code | Two Great Commandments/ Beatitudes | Five Pillars | Doing good and meditation | Four Noble Truths/ Eightfold Path | Ten Commandments |
| Place of Worship | Church/ Chapel/ Cathedral | Mosque | Mandira | Temple | Synagogue |
Inter-faith dialogue is the term we use to describe different religions talking to one another. Inter-faith (or inter-religious) dialogue is different from ecumenism because it refers to dialogue between all of the world religions, not just the Christian churches.
Catholic Leadership on Inter-faith Dialogue
World Day of Prayer Pope John Paul II
During the World Day of Prayer in 2002, Pope John Paul II led two hundred other religious leaders in prayers for world peace in Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis.
The members of each community of faith had travelled to Assisi from the Vatican’s seldom-used rail station in a seven-car train supplied by Italy’s State-run railway. Pope John Paul II said that he wanted to use the ‘peace train’ to help all participants of the World Day of Prayer to feel equal.
Building Together Pope Benedict XVI
A WORLD OF PEACE AND FRATERNITY
Continuing, then, the work undertaken by my predecessor, Pope John Paul II, I sincerely pray that the relations of trust which have developed between Christians and Muslims over several years, will not only continue, but will develop further in a spirit of sincere and respectful dialogue, based on ever more authentic reciprocal knowledge which, with joy, recognises the religious values that we have in common and, with loyalty, respects the differences.
Inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue is necessary for building together this world of peace and fraternity ardently desired by all people of good will… I am profoundly convinced that in the current world situation it is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another in order to address the numerous challenges that present themselves to humanity, especially those concerning the defence and promotion of the dignity of the human person and the rights ensuing from that dignity.’
Benedict XVI, Address to the Ambassadors of Countries with a Muslim Majority and the Representatives of Muslim Communities in Italy, 25 September 2006.