Interfaith Symposium on Death and Dying 7-9 April 2010 Hosted by the Ecumenical and Interfaith...

Interfaith Symposium on Death and Dying

7-9 April 2010

Hosted by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Session One: Welcome

• Very Rev Denis Stanley

• Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Session One: Welcome

• Professor Anne Hunt

• Dean of Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University

Session One: Opening

• Hon. James Merlino, MP

• Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs

Session One: 1st Keynote speaker

• Most Rev Christopher Prowse

• Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sale

Session One: 2nd Keynote Speaker

• Mr Julian Gardner

• Lawyer

• Victorian Public Advocate from 2000-07

10.30am-11am: Morning Tea

• Served in the foyer

Office of the Public Advocate

• www.opa.vic.gov.au

• Information and forms about enduring powers of attorney etc

http://www.opa.vic.gov.au/

Session Two: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part One)

• Rev. Merrill Kitchen OAM

• Principal Churches of Christ Theological College 2000-2010


• Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn

• Chief Minister of the St Kilda Shule


• Professor Abdullah Saeed

• Director of Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne

Session Three: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part Two)

• Indigenous Speaker• Mr Djon Mundine OAM• Indigenous Curator – Contemporary

Art at Cambelltown Art Centre


• Hindu Speaker• Dr Navaratnam Shanmuganathan• Speaker and Educator in Hinduism


• Buddhist Speaker• Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan OAM• Abbot of Quang Minh Temple in

Braybrook

Session One: Political Issues surrounding Death and Dying facing Religious Communities

• Keynote Speaker• Mrs Inga Peulich MLC• State Liberal Member for the South

Eastern Metropolitan region

Session two: Rites of passage for the dying - the role of the Funeral

(Part One)

• Jewish Speaker• Mr Ephraim Finch• Executive Director of the Melbourne

Chevra Kadisha


(Part One)

• Secular Speaker• Ms Trish Goullet• Director of White Lady Funerals


(Part One)

• Indigenous speaker• Ms Vicki Clarke• Aboriginal Catholic Ministry

Melbourne

Session three: Rites of passage for the dying and the role of the Funeral

(Part Two)• Hindu Speaker• Dr Jayant Bapat• Hindu Priest


(Part Two)• Christian Speaker• Dr Margaret Smith SGS• Lecturer at Yarra Theological Union

and Catholic Theological College


(Part Two)• Muslim Speaker• Sheikh Riad Galil• Imam of the West Heidelberg Mosque

Jewish Christian Muslim Confernce

July 1-4, 2010

Warburton

A four day live in conference for anyone who belongs t o these three religious traditions

contact David at [email protected] for more information

mailto:[email protected]

Friday, 9 April: “The process of dying”

• Two book titles:

• Given as gifts to all the speakers at this conference:

“Death and Religion in a Changing World”, edited by Kathleen Garces-Foley (2006: M. E. Sharpe)

• Recommended by Ephraim Finch yesterday:

“The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning”, by Maurice Lamm (1969,2000: Jonathan David Publishers)

Session One: The Value of Life and the Value of Death:

A Christian / Buddhist / Rationalist Dialogue

• Christian Speaker: Rev. Dr John DupucheChair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee

• Buddhist Speaker:Ms Di CousensMelbourne Sakya Centre

• Rationalist Speaker: Ms Lyn AllisonDemocrat Senator for Victoria 1996-2008, Committee member of Rationalist Society of Victoria

10.15am-10.35am Morning Tea

• Morning tea is served in the room next door (turn right and down the corridor)

10.35-12pm Second session: The Role of Faith or Non-faith in

Palliative Care

• Keynote Speaker:Dr Michelle GoldHead of the Palliative Care Unit at the Alfred Hospital


Palliative Care

• Buddhist ResponseVenerable Beom HyonSocial Worker with integrated Palliative Care Unit at Northern Hospital, Epping


Palliative Care

• Muslim Response:Dr Salih YucelLecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies, Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, Monash University

12noon-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session

• (Time available for those wishing to attend Fitzroy Mosque for Friday Noon Prayer)

• 12.45-1.30pm Lunch Break

12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session

• Leader: Mrs Gwenda RaitCatholic Interfaith Committee


• Christian Readings: • Patricia Chaves

East-West Meditation Foundation


• Psalm 139: 7-11Where can I go from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?If I ascend to heaven You are there; and if I descend to Hell, You are there.And if I take the wings of the morning, And fly to the farthest side of the sea,even there will Your hand guide me, and Your right hand will hold me.And if I say, "Surely only darkness will cover me and the light be night around me“Even the darkness is not dark for You, and the night shines like the day.The darkness and the light are both alike for You.


• From the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 3.14-19.

• “This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.”


• Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly• Silence • Ring of the bell


• Buddhist Reading• Di Cousens

Spiritual Director of Sakya Choekhor Lhunpo


• The Mangala Sutta • Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One

was dwelling near Savatthi in the Jetavana monastery built by Anathapindika (a wealthy merchant of Savatthi). Then a certain deity at midnight, having illuminated the whole Jetavana grove with surpassing splendour, came to the presence of the Blessed One. Having worshipped the Blessed One, he respectfully stood at one side; and addressed the Blessed One in verse:


• The Mangala Sutta • 1. Many gods and men

Have pondered on auspicious signs Wishing for blessings.

Please tell us the most auspicious signs2. Not to associate with fools

But to associate with the wiseAnd to honour those worthy of honour,This is the most auspicious sign.

3. Living in a suitable localityAnd good deeds done in the past,To set oneself in the right course,This is the most auspicious sign.


• The Mangala Sutta • 4. Great learning and skill in work

A highly trained disciplineAnd well-spoken speech,This is the most auspicious sign.

5. Looking after one’s mother and fatherCaring for one’s wife and childrenAnd unconfused actions,This is the most auspicious sign.

6. Generosity and a righteous life,Caring for one’s relativesAnd blameless actions,This is the most auspicious sign.


• The Mangala Sutta • 7. To abhor and avoid all evil,

Abstention from intoxicantsAnd diligence in righteousness,This is the most auspicious sign.

8. Reverence, humility,Contentment and gratitude.Hearing the Dhamma at the right time,This is the most auspicious sign.

9. Patience and complianceAnd seeing the monks.Opportune discussion of the Dhamma,This is the most auspicious sign.


• The Mangala Sutta • 10. Self-restraint and a holy life,

Seeing the Four Noble TruthsAnd realising nirvana,This is the most auspicious sign.

11. When affected by worldly conditions,If one’s mind remains unshaken;Sorrowless, stainless and secure,This is the most auspicious sign.

12. Those who perform such auspicious deedsAre undefeated by all enemiesAnd gain happiness everywhere.These are the most auspicious signs.


• Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly• Silence • Ring of the bell


• Sikh ReadingHarbhinder SinghBlackburn Gurdwara


• Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly• Silence• Ring of the bell


• Thanks and break for Lunch• From ‘Promoting interfaith Relations’ (Catholic

Archdiocese of Melbourne 2009)• “The sacred texts of each other’s faith are heard

with deep respect, acknowledging that in them, somehow, God has spoken. ...

• “In this way we “manifest our respect for the prayer of others and for the attitude of others before the Divinity…

• “As a result of such listening we sense their faith and observe that God’s Word is also at work in them. And so we are caught up in the Word of God together.”

3rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced the

experience of dying

• Keynote Speaker: Dr Bruce RumboldProfessor of the School of Public Health, La Trobe University

3rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced

the experience of dying

• Sikh Respondents:Mr Harbhinder SinghCommunity Worker Blackburn Gurdwara

• Mr Sukhwinder RakhraOccupational Therapist, Royal Melbourne Hospital

3rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced

the experience of dying

• Jewish Respondent: Ms Deborah MaselAuthor, editor and teacher with a special interest in the Jewish mystical tradition.

4th Session: Future Challenges Facing the Life and Dying Debate

• Keynote Speaker: • Mr Mehmet Osalp• CEO of ISRA Australia (Islamic Sciences

and Research Academy of Australia)• Responses and comments from the

Audience

4.45pm Closing Thanks

• Very Rev. Denis StanleyEpiscopal Vicar for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relationsand Chair of the Ecumenical and Interfaith CommmissionCatholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Interfaith Symposium on Death and Dying 7-9 April 2010 Hosted by the Ecumenical and Interfaith...

Documents

Transcript of Interfaith Symposium on Death and Dying 7-9 April 2010 Hosted by the Ecumenical and Interfaith...