FIND A MASS, CHURCH OR SCHOOL HOW DO I? Search this website … HOME ABOUT SAFEGUARDING PARISHES SCHOOLS CARING SERVICES DEPARTMENTS SPIRITUALITY CONTACT YOU ARE HERE: HOME / ABOUT THE DIOCESE OF HALLAM / BISHOP’S COMMISSIONS ABOUT THE DIOCESE OF HALLAM HOME BISHOP RALPH VACANCIES COMMISSIONS HALLAM NEWS DEANERIES AND DEANERY COUNCILS DIOCESAN MAP ST MARIE’S CATHEDRAL Bishop’s Commissions Council for Liturgy Ecumenism & Interfaith Justice & Peace Commission Assembly Committee The Diocesan Contact for Interfaith and Ecumenism is Reverend Andrew Crowley. ! Interfaith Ever since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has placed special emphasis on the importance of dialogue and cooperation with the followers of other religions. In order to be fruitful, this requires reciprocity on the part of all partners in dialogue and the the followers of other religions. (Pope Benedict XVI, Twickenham 17 September 2010) Interfaith Calendar (link) There is an Inter Faith Week throughout the UK that aims to increase awareness of di!erent faiths and promote understanding between people of di!erent faiths and beliefs. The aims of Inter Faith Week are: To strengthen good interfaith relations at all levels; To encourage local faith groups and communities to reach out to each other and build stronger bonds of understanding and cooperation; To increase awareness of the di!erent and distinct faith communities in the UK, with a particular focus on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society; To increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs; To encourage the development of new partnerships within local communities and by faith communities with statutory and third sector partners. For local interfaith news please visit http://she"eldinterfaith.org.uk/ Guidance on Visiting Speci!c Religious Centres ! Visiting a Vihara (Buddhist) A gift of #owers to be placed in the shrine room, by the image of Buddha, is a kind gesture, as is a small donation. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering the shrine room. Visitors will usually sit on the #oor. Some Buddhist monks are not allowed to touch women and do not shake hands. They will prefer to put their hands together in the traditional Eastern manner of greeting. ! Visiting a Church Building (Christian) Male visitors remove their hats when entering a church building Certain parts, such as the altar area, may not be open to explore. This must be clari$ed with the host community before the visit begins. Some churches have a burial ground next to them. The gravestones can themselves provide a fascinating insight into people’s beliefs about life, death and the afterlife. Traditionally, church buildings are east-facing (that is, the “east end” contains the altar) and various reasons are given for this. The amount of decoration and ornament in a church building will re#ect the particular tradition and its beliefs. For example, Roman Catholic churches are generally highly decorated (statues, lamps and candles, stations of the cross etc) whilst buildings used by members of the Free Churches (such as Baptists) are relatively plain. ! Visiting a Mandir (Hindu) All visitors will have to remove their shoes and place them in the shoe racks provided. Head covering is not normally required. On $rst entering the worship hall, a small bow to the murtis (images of the deities set out at the front of the hall) shows respect to the host community. Backs should not be turned on the murtis or the soles of the feet pointed towards them when sitting on the carpet. Prashad – a gift of fruit, nuts and other blessed food – is often given to visitors as they leave. Visitors usually sit on the carpeted #oor. Sometimes, the priest will o!er to place a red mark (tilak) on the forehead of those who want this. ! Visiting a Synagogue (Jewish) All males have to cover their heads. Often synagogues have a supply of kippot (skull caps) to use. Jewish married women wear headscarves or a hat when in an Orthodox synagogue. This won’t be needed in a Reform or Progressive synagogue. In Orthodox synagogues, men and women sit in separate areas for worship. ! Visiting a Mosque (Muslim) All visitors will have to remove their shoes and place them in the shoeracks provided. During prayer time, male visitors may be required to cover their heads. Females may need to wear a headscarf. Given the Muslim emphasis on modesty, clothing should cover arms and legs. Male and female visitors may have to sit separately, but this is unlikely during an educational visit. Visitors should avoid sitting with the soles of their feet pointing towards the mihrab (prayer niche at the front of the prayer hall). ! Visiting a Gurdwara (Sikh) All visitors will have to remove their shoes and place them in the shoe racks provided. All visitors will need to cover their heads. Head coverings will be available in the Gurdwara but a knotted handkerchief is acceptable. Other hats (eg baseball-style caps) are not appropriate. Few chairs are available and so, when sitting, this will be on the carpeted #oor. On $rst entering the large prayer room, a small bow to the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book) shows respect to the host community. Backs should not be turned on the Guru Granth Sahib or the soles of the feet pointed towards the book when sitting on the carpet. Visitors are usually o!ered kara parshad (sweet food o!ered as a gift) in the worship hall, which is usually given in cupped hands and eaten with the right hand. Visitors will be usually given Langar (vegetarian food from the communal kitchen). ! Ecumenism If Anglicans and Catholics see that both are not there for themselves, but are rather instruments of Christ, 'friends of the Bridegroom' as St John says; if both follow tegether the priority of Christ and not themselves, they draw closer together, because the priority of Christ brings them together, they are no longer in competition, each one seeking greater numbers, but are united in commitment to the truth of Christ. (Pope Benedict, in #ight 16 September 2010) Churches Together in Britain & Ireland Churches Together in South Yorkshire (Joint Presidents: Rev Gill Newton, Chairman of the She"eld Methodist District, Bishop of She"eld, Rt Rev Ralph Heskett CSsR, Bishop of Hallam) More local 'Churches Together' Groups exist throughout South Yorkshire She"eld North Deanery Mission & Unity (Contact Fr Shaun Smith) © 2014-2017 Copyright QUICK SEARCHES FEATURED CONTENT SUPPORT Diocese of Hallam · Find a Mass . Safeguarding · Sitemap Trustee · Find a School . Catholic Schools · Privacy All rights reserved · Find a priest · Vacancies · Links Phone: 0114 256 6401 · Find Safeguarding . For website issues Fax: 0114 256 2673 contacts or suggestions Contact Us · Find Us please email: webadmin@hallamdioce se.com