Generations Of Faith Event Promotes Dialogue Across Religions, Age Groups

WASHINGTON—Leaders and youngpeople from Catholic, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu traditions gathered for a day-longconference at St. Paul's College, November 10, to exchange experiences andideas on the need for dialogue among religions in U.S. society. Generations ofFaith 2012 was the second such event sponsored by the Secretariat forEcumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops (USCCB).

Over 20 young people and sevenreligious leaders representing USCCB, the Islamic Society of North America(ISNA), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), the World SikhCouncil-America Region (WSC-AR), and TheInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) participated.The first "Generations of Faith" took place in 2010.

Father John Crossin, executive directorof the USCCB's Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, presenteda session on the importance of listening. "This art of dialogue begins on the opencanvas of mutual listening," Father Crossin said. "Listening is the first andever-present step in a process that, through God's grace, will take us torecognize the obstacles that separate us, heal old wounds, grow in ourunderstanding of the other, grow in our understanding of self, and create asacred space in which the genuine bonds of friendship, solidarity, respect, andpeace can flourish."

Subsequent sessions dealt with the 25th Assisi World Day of Prayer for Peace(2010),sharing one's faith with people of othertraditions, and the need for young people to advocate for interreligiousdialogue. Young adults and religious leaders also shared personal testimonyregarding the important role dialogue has played for them.

Bishop Barry Knestout, auxiliary bishopof Washington and co-chair of the Mid-Atlantic Catholic-Muslim Dialogue, gave thekeynote address on the theme "Dialogue of Life: Celebrating our Commonalities,Understanding our Differences." Bishop Knestout said dialogue makes possible anunderstanding of differences that does not lead to strife and discord.

"We have high hopes for you – foryou are the future hands and feet of God in the world," Bishop Knestout said. "Thistask of interreligious dialogue, a task that requires your hands and feet, thatis, your commitment to interreligious service and cooperation, as well asunderstanding and solidarity, is of immense importance at this point inhistory."

More information on Generations ofFaith 2012 is available online: www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/dialogue-with-others/interreligious/generations-of-faith.cfm

Other participants in the eventincluded: RameezAbid, president of ICNA, Virginia Chapter; Rizwaan Akhtar, co-leader ofColumbia Heights Halaqa; Dana Christensen, Ph.D. student of religion and culture, The CatholicUniversity of America (CUA); Anthony Cirelli, Ph.D., associate director, SEIA; Anuttamma Dasa, director,ISKCON; Jordan Denari, Georgetown School ofForeign Service; Kirsten Evans, program and research specialist, SEIA; KathrynElliott, staff assistant, SEIA; Abdul Kadir, Abaynah Yemer, and Amr Hamadi, representativesof ICNA, Virginia Chapter; Maria Rodriguez, master's student of theology, CUA; FatherTom Ryan, director of the Paulist Center for Interreligious Dialogue; KeshavaSharma, director of Communications, ISKCON;Savraj Singh, representativeof WSC-AR; Sayyid Syeed, Ph.D., director for the Officefor Interfaith and Community Alliances, ISNA; Hanaa Unus, Muslim scholarof interreligious dialogue; Pim Valkenberg, Ph.D., director of the Institutefor Interreligious Dialogue, CUA; andStu Wilson-Smith, seminarian ofthe Society of St. Paul.

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Keywords: Generations of Faith, interfaithdialogue, U.S. bishops, USCCB, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic,Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs,Bishop Barry Knestout, Father John Crossin

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