WelCom April 2020:
Fr Ron Bennett
The Wellington Abrahamic Council, of which I am a member, is a small group of committed Jews, Muslims and Christians who seek to build better relationships between the three Abrahamic faith communities. They do this through getting to know each other and providing opportunities for the wider community to do the same. On Sunday 23 February, our group organised ‘Peacenic’ at Te Ngākau-Wellington Civic Square. Peacenic began in Auckland in 2016 out of a desire to replace polarising negative stories with real experiences of hospitality and friendship over a picnic. At our Wellington Peacenic, food and conversation provided the backdrop for a wonderful coming-together of the three faiths. It was a great success and organisers hope it will become an annual event. In our increasingly multi-religious, multi-ethnic community, we want to help build bridges across the historic divisions that have separated us. (www.abrahamic.nz)
Fr Ron Bennett is parish priest at the Catholic Parish of Otari.