Walking to connect with different faiths

FOR someone who hadn’t lived in Ballarat for all that long, Fiona Marshall undertook the Interfaith Friendship Walk last year because she had never been to any of the places of worship included in the walk.

While from a Christian background Ms Marshall said she is not a practicing member of any church.

“I was interested to see how those communities were making their way in a country town,” she said. “I experienced something different at each of the stops along the walk.”

Ms Marshall found the people at the Mosque very welcoming and were happy to explain their faith in a way that people could understand it.

Unfortunately, there had been a mass shooting at a Synagogue in Pittsburgh USA, the day before the Walk and Ms Marshall said she “felt a powerful feeling amongst the Jewish community in Ballarat.”

The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas in Humffray Street North Brown Hill was the final stop.

“They really struggled to get that church happening and it was great to hear their story,” she said. “And then there was some excellent food afterwards.”

She summed up the walk as a lovely day, a pleasant time walking between each place and nice chats along the way while learning about other faiths and cultures.

This years’ Interfaith Friendship Walk, organised by Ballarat Interfaith Network in partnership with the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Melbourne, is on Sunday, 20 October.

It begins at the Central Uniting Church, 103 Lydiard Street South at 2pm and will then proceed to the Ballarat Hebrew Congregation’s Synagogue on the corner of Princes Street and Barkly Street South, Bakery Hill.

The Walk will conclude at the Islamic Mosque, 116 Elsworth Street East, Canadian.

Water will be available along the way and refreshments will be served at the Mosque at the walk’s conclusion.

For those who have difficulty walking or in the case of inclement weather, the walk can be done by car, arriving at the Central Uniting Church at 2pm, the Synagogue at 3pm and the Mosque at 4.30pm.

For catering purposes please advise your attendance by calling 0411 493 327, or visiting bin-jcma-friendshipwalk19.eventbrite.com.au.