The annual Women's Interfaith Network gathering was held recently, attended by CCJ members including Sr Marianne Dacy and Sr Giovanni Farquhar.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally was enthusiastic in her support: "As Premier, I can continue to support this important network which I encountered initially through my friendship with Josie Lacey. Josie is a prominent member of Sydney's Jewish community and an inter-faith activist, and was instrumental in founding the Women's Interfaith Network."
"My support for the Women's Interfaith Network extended to duties that a local MP could assist with, which I did as an offical sponsor."
"At the risk of being labelled sexist, there is something that is deeply feminine - and deeply strong - about this particular aspect of the Network, and your area of work: the ability to be with someone else's spiritual reality - one that may be totally different from your own, and to do just that ; to simply be with it.
"What it shows us, above all, is that all members of the Interfaith Network have genuine, solid, mature connection with their faith," the Premier said.
This article was first published in Scene, the magazine of the Austrailan Council of Christians and Jews.
The Working Group on Relations with Other Faiths member Wilma Viswanathan is a member of the Women's Interfaith Network, and attended the recent gathering at Parliament House.