Interfaith Relations

Welcome to this space where we share Interfaith information, news and initiatives happening in the Hamilton Diocese.

In the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls on us to be ‘neighbours without borders’. “The future is not monochrome,” writes the Holy Father, “If we are courageous, we can contemplate it in all the variety and diversity of what each individual person has to offer.”

Volunteers from Rimbrook Study Centre run a holiday programme three times a year for refugee children who are from a diverse range of cultures and faiths. Rimbrook Study Centre is a female university residence, looked after by the prelature of Opus Dei. Click on the image to read more.

Each year, parishioners from our Catholic community gather with those of other faiths and cultures for an interfaith tree planting at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park. Click on the image to read more.

 

What does the Church teach on Inter-religious dialogue?

Pope Francis in his encyclical letter Laudato Si not only addresses Catholics but people of all faiths. The year 2015, marked 50 years since Nostra Aetate statement was released by the Second Vatican Council - an excerpt from it states:

"The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions ... The Church, therefore urges her (children) to enter with prudence and charity into discussion and collaboration with members of other religions. Let Christians, while witnessing to their own faith and way of life, acknowledge, preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral truths found among non-Christians, also their social life and culture"

All Catholics are called to dialogue and to cooperate with other faiths and religions (Nostra Aetate, Pope Paul VI, 1965). This can happen in our everyday lives but there are also special occasions for interfaith “dialogue” which include actions such as this tree planting event. It would be great to have a strong Catholic representation at interfaith events. You can read more about the Catholic perspective on Interfaith in the booklet Promoting Interfaith Relations produced by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations. Click the image below to view and download the booklet for free.

Want to get involved in future initiatives?

To keep in the loop with future interfaith events, please contact our Catholic representatives on the Waikato Interfaith Council:

Upcoming Events

Annual Matariki Multicultural Tree Planting

When: Saturday 14 June 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm.

Where: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (use Baverstock Rd gate entrance, past the corner of Baverstock and Rotokauri Roads, on your way to the Hamilton Zoo).

EarthDiverse, the Waikato Interfaith Council, the Waikato Multicultural Council, GoEco, Kaivolution, the Bahá’í Community, the Hamilton City Council (and other partners) are co-organising a Community-wide tree planting event to take place in Hamilton on Saturday 14 June 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm (This event will take place Rain or Shine). Please use the Baverstock Rd entrance gate, up the hill past the corner of Baverstock and Rotokauri Rd instead of the entrance across from the Zoo. If you use the entrance across from the Zoo you won't find us as we'll be on the side of the Park!

Bring a spade or shovel, gumboots, appropriate outdoor weather gear (e.g. hat, rain gear, sunglasses), some gardening gloves, water and a big smile.  A light lunch will be served (courtesy of EarthDiverse, Kaivolution, Go Eco, Waikato Interfaith Council, the Bahá’í Community, Ahmaddiyya Muslim Community, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Trust, and others). If possible, bring your own plates, cutlery or mugs in order to minimise waste. As we aim to plant over 4500 saplings, 100 people would mean planting about 45 saplings each, 200 people about 23 each, 300 people about 15 saplings each, so the more the merrier! Come either for the morning or afternoon sapling planting sessions, have some lunch on us, or stay for both sessions!

This event is free, family-friendly and fun! Open to all. Mark this date in your diaries now. Come and help offset your carbon usage and pay tribute to the wisdom of Laudato Si.