12.12.2015
Celebrate Diversity – Lord Mayor of Dublin Hosts Interfaith Forum
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, met representatives of Dublin’s diverse Faith communities in the Mansion House yesterday afternoon (Friday December 11). Organised by the Dublin City Interfaith Forum, the meeting aimed to show how Dublin’s different Faith communities worked together. Also attending the meeting were members of Dublin City Council’s Social Inclusion Unit. The Church of Ireland was represented by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Welcoming the visitors, the Lord Mayor said it was an honour to host the forum in the Mansion House and commended the work DCIF is doing. “In all the strife and heartache that is going on in the world today, it is great to see that everyone here can sit down and talk together,” she commented.
Acting chairperson of DCIF, Dr Damian Jackson, told the Lord Mayor of DCIF’s background. He explained that the seeds for the forum were sown in 2010 out of a collabouration between the Irish Council of Churches and Dublin City Council and came out of a recognition that Dublin was an increasingly diverse city. Dublin City Interfaith Forum was launched in January 2012.
Dr Jackson highlighted the work of the forum which includes supporting faith communities in integration work, challenging injustice and discrimination and promoting respect and acceptance. Their activities include annual events such as Faith in the City which involves the congregations of different Faith communities meeting in each other’s places of worship and the Interfaith Walk of Peace to mark UN World Peace Day as well as public seminars, facilitated workshops and panel discussions.
“We believe that diversity is an advantage in a city. It is an asset and can enrich the life of a city. It is important to have organisations that facilitate this rather than cause fragmentation. It is a diverse group, we are not uniform, but we want to celebrate this,” he concluded.