Unity among all Christians is a key concern for the Catholic Church. Ecumenism, unity or cooperation with other Christian churches, is about healing and forgiving so we can all work together as a united witness to our shared faith in Christ.
Interreligious Relations promotes prayerful dialogue and peaceful harmony between our brothers and sisters of all faiths.
"Often we think that ecumenical work is only that of theologians. It is therefore important that theologians study, they agree, and they express their disagreement: this is very important. But in the meantime, ecumenism journeys on. It journeys with Jesus, not 'my Jesus against your Jesus', but with our Jesus. The journey is simple: it consists of prayer, with the help of others. Praying together: the ecumenism of prayer, for each other and all for unity. And then, the ecumenism of work for the many who are in need, for many men and women who today suffer as a result of injustice, wars, these terrible things. … All together, we must help. Love for our neighbour. This is ecumenism. This is already unity. Unity in journeying with Jesus.”
Local Organisations:
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Contact Us
Let’s talk? Please contact the Admin team below:
Tel: 0191 243 3316 or email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk
"This sacred Council calls upon all the Catholic faithful to recognise the signs of the times and to play an informed part in the work of ecumenism."
The Interreligious Relations team works closely with a number of religions across our diocese, supporting interfaith dialogue. We encourage cooperative, constructive and positive interaction with people of all faiths.
We promote events organised by various interfaith organisations, particularly Newcastle and Durham Council of Faiths, Voices of Faith and Focolare an organisation which supports the unity of universal brotherhood, and members of the United Hebrew Congregation, who are based in Gosforth. We also work closely with Sunderland Interfaith Council.
Our role also includes offering and advice on Interfaith matters.
The team has worked closely with schools across our Diocese, particularly regarding our annual Holocaust Memorial Commemorations, which take place in January each year.
The team also organises the annual Christian Muslim prayers for peace, which takes place in Jesmond Dene. Christian and Muslim women and young children unite in prayer to Our Blessed Lady, as both faiths share devotion to her.
“Unity in journeying with Jesus.”
‘One Day’
The theme of the 2022 Holocaust Memorial Evenings is ‘One Day’. This year, we heard from our special guest speaker Mrs Hanneke Dye.
The video memorial can be viewed below.
‘One Day’
Holocaust Memorial Day is held annually on the 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex of camps in 1945. Over 1 million Jewish men, women and children lost their lives in these camps. In total, over 6 million were murdered during the Nazi persecution.
We acknowledge the other ‘genocides’ that have taken place during the 20th century: Armenia (1915), Cambodia (1975 – 79), Rwanda (1994), Bosnia (1992 – 95), Darfur (2003 – present) and those who are still facing terror and persecution.
We welcome Mrs Hanneke Dye, who is our special guest speaker.
Mrs Hanneke Dye
Hanneke was born into a Jewish family, in Nazi occupied Holland, in 1943. A sympathetic doctor, realising the peril the family were in, hid her in a vacuum cleaner box for her safety. She went on to spend the first two years of her life in hiding.
The family were living with her Uncle Jeep when the Nazi’s raided the house. Fortunately for Hanneke, she was fast asleep in the vacuum cleaner box and was not discovered.
For her safety, Uncle Jeep managed to move her to a nearby Catholic Children’s home where she was looked after by a lady named Aunt Pop. This move saved her life. Whilst she was reunited with her parents after the war, tragically her grandparents were murdered in the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex.
How to contact the Vicariate for Faith & Mission:
Email: adminfaith.mission@diocesehn.org.uk
Tel: 0191 243 3316 (office*) or 07375 934713 (mobile)
*Your call may be automatically diverted to the mobile number.
Admin office hours:
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, excluding Bank Holidays.
To see a full list of Vicariate contacts and leads, please visit our Faith & Mission page.
