World Youth Pilgrims join Sydney multi-faith leaders in prayers for peace

World Youth Pilgrims join Sydney multi-faith leaders in prayers for peace - Click to enlarge image

Several dozen World Youth Day pilgrims prayed for global peace and social justice at a gathering at Sydney University organised by the Community Relations Commission on Wednesday.

Prayers were offered by representatives of the Baha’I, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Sikh and Zoroastrian faith groups.

At the conclusion of the prayers, the whole gathering read, in unison, an affirmation which ended with the words: “May we work for the day when all of humanity may praise creation in their own way united in love and respect for each other”.

The Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said the pilgrims who attended had “expressed their delight at being invited to participate in such a unique multi-faith event happening in the midst of the Catholic oriented World Youth Day.

“The pilgrims who had come from several different countries said they had never experienced such a moving multi-faith gathering in their home countries”, he said.

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.

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World Youth Day Pilgrims read the affirmation

Final Affirmation

In Peace We Unite

We have spoken through the words of our holy traditions, in different voices and different languages; have uplifted our hearts by joining together peacefully on this unique occasion.

Now, as we go forth from this place, we leave with abounding hope that the effort we have undertaken shall not be in vain. Inspired and guided by our various holy teachings to bring blessings of peace to all people, of all nations, for all eternity we shall continue to spread this message of mutual respect and harmonious co-existence.

May the respect that we have shown to one another continue beyond these walls. May we continue to listen to one another, learn about the diverse beauty of our faiths, recognising that our differences need not cause division and strife.

As we continue the sacred task of bringing peace to a fragmented world, may we add light where there is darkness, spread warmth to those who are confronted by the chill of prejudice, racism, and bigotry, and offer hope to those who despair.

May we work for the day when all of humanity may praise creation in their own way united in love and respect for each other.