The national celebration took place on Sunday 26th October with representatives from six different religions.
Nostra Aetate means ‘In Our Time’ and it was a groundbreaking declaration by the Second Vatican Council that focused on the Catholic Church’s relations with non-Christian religions. It was published on 28 October 1965. It called for rejecting prejudice and embracing the universal dignity of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God. This paved the way for a new era of understanding, particularly in Catholic-Jewish relations, and promoted respect for all religions. Nostra Aetate remains a foundational text for this important dialogue.
Events were held in Birmingham and Rome. The national celebration took place on Sunday 26th October with representatives from six different religions meting together at St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrated within the Jubilee Year, a time of hope, to express gratitude to colleagues from other religions. This celebration highlighted the warmth of interreligious dialogue and the close working relationships built over the years.
The event featured Sung Vespers with reflections from representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Christian faiths. A panel discussion titled ‘Dying to Live’ explored the challenges faced by Birmingham’s faith communities in end-of-life care settings.
Despite diverse traditions and beliefs, caring for people with love, dignity, and respect at the end of life unites us. While we still need to educate people about their religions’ end-of-life care, the panel discussion demonstrated how collaboration and open dialogue can reveal shared spirituality, commonalities, and appreciation for differences.
Bishop Patrick McKinney, Lead Bishop for Interreligious Dialogue, emphasised the ongoing relevance of the declaration. “In a world scarred by religious extremism, cultural polarisation and conflicts often fuelled by misunderstanding, this dialogue is a moral imperative. As we would all recognise, it requires humility, openness, and a commitment to active listening so as to ensure that differences enrich the dialogue rather than divide.”
Read more about the celebration here.
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