Interfaith Network calls all to have hope

THE Ballarat Interfaith Network exists to build bridges of understanding between people who hold diverse beliefs, religions and cultures.

During the COVID period, their focus has been to continue uniting and supporting different faith communities by encouraging them to share in a collective sense of hope.

Chair of Ballarat Interfaith Network, Margaret Lenan Ellis said members with links to the committee have contributed to a video package, sharing their unique voices to reflect on the last seven months and gaze ahead to the future.

“Our video says that we can see we are going to come out of this, it can be turned into a positive, and that we can look within ourselves or to a god that we believe in. All will be well ultimately,” she said.

“Craig Farrell, the captain of Delacombe Salvation Army, suggested this idea and put the video together.

“He said, at least this way, we can get a message of hope and encouragement out from a multi-faith point of view.”

One of the members speaking in the video is Saint Matthews Anglican Church’s parish priest, Fr Constantine Osuchukwu.

He said COVID-19 has emphasised the world’s “other viruses” like inequality, injustices, and the suffering of vulnerable people including the elderly, casual workers, refugees, the displaced, the homeless and poor.

But he also noted that this period has shown humanity’s goodness.

“The current global pandemic has exposed the many beautiful things in our world. It’s been wonderful to see families getting together, children spending more time with their parents, people slowing down and enjoying the simple pleasures of life,” he said.

“We are all connected. Something that started in Wuhan, has spread throughout the whole world.

“My message is for all of us to pause and ask, how can I turn this interconnectedness into an interconnectivity of compassion, and learn the lessons of COVID-19 so I can put my love in action as we try to create a whole new world where the common good… is at the foundation of a new society?”

The clip is also an opportunity for the committee to remind Ballarat that the Network has not dissolved or collapsed since the pandemic.

“We are still active and engaged in seeing how we can adapt, but because we’re such a small group, we haven’t done things on a grand scale,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

Visit facebook.com/Ballarat-Interfaith-Network-111053757176750.