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Work with your pastor to establish a Committee for Ecumenical
and Interreligious Relations for your cluster of parishes. A
collaborative effort will make for a more effective outreach and more
efficient
use of resources. For training sessions and/or for advice on
appropriate and helpful
resources, contact the Archdiocesan Office
for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
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Offer to work with interfaith
clergy associations in your area. Local clergy are always busy
with their own congregational responsibilities
and would welcome the assistance of trained helpers, especially
on occasions like Thanksgiving, which is often an appropriate opportunity
for interfaith
prayer and action.
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Encourage relationship-building between your
parish and your local synagogue. Offer to assist your pastor
in his own work of outreach
to members of other religions.
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Set up a study group to learn more
about the Church and interreligious relations. To see one such
curriculum, click
here .
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Organize a New Directions
Program for the religious educators
in your parish religious education program or school. Reach out
to other parishes in your vicinity. The New Directions Program,
co-sponsored by the
Archdiocese of Boston and the Anti-Defamation League, has been
highly successful in teaching Catholic religious educators how
to teach about Judaism with
accuracy and respect. In addition to the basic
workshop, New Directions
also provides higher level workshops.
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Organize a local dialogue using Walking
God’s Paths. This
six-part video/ multimedia program has been produced by the Center
for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College on behalf of
The National Council of Synagogues
and the Bishops Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Contact
the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for advice.
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Invite
speakers to address your parishioners, religious education
program, or RCIA. Contact the Office for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for advice.
