Promoting Interfaith Unity and Understanding Amidst Conflict

This week St Austin, for the fifth time over the last twenty or so years, will host an exhibit on Kristallnacht. This recalls the events of November 9–10, 1938, in Germany when the Nazis attacked Jewish persons and property, and began the attempt to exterminate the Jews.

We have this remembrance at St Austin not merely to remember this horrible occurrence, but to be motivated to learn more about the other Abrahamic religions, that is Judaism and Islam, to recognize our points of both similarity and difference. We both need and want to learn more about our Jewish and Moslem neighbors, and to pray together for peace on this one planet we all inhabit. The Kristallnacht remembrances have always been wonderful experiences.

This year it is particularly necessary and appropriate that we work concretely against hatred and for mutual understanding. World events, with the hostage taking by Hamas in Israel, and the strong Israeli response in Gaza, have greatly inflamed passions and unleashed acts of violence and hatred. Passions on all sides are now running red hot.

I hope and pray that St Austin parish can be small refuge of patience and understanding. We grieve for the victims on both sides of the conflict. We pray earnestly for peace. We do what little we can to promote dialogue and understanding.
Our Kristallnacht observance is an attempt to reaffirm our deeper relation as all children of the One God.

There will be an Interfaith Prayer Service on Thursday evening, November 9. Paulist Father Steven Bell, CSP is scheduled to preach. We hope that the Imam from the Nueces Street Mosque, and a Rabbi from UT Hillel, will be joining us. I hope many of you will show your support of this work by joining us on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. In any case I urge you to pray for the victims, and also the perpetrators on all sides, and for the peace that all people yearn for.

God bless, Fr Chuck Kullmann, CSP