Bishop Mykola Bychok takes part in parliamentary interfaith breakfast in Australia

On Thursday, November 21, Bishop Mykola Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, together with Father Simon Ckuj, Protosyncellos of the Melbourne Eparchy, participated in an interfaith prayer breakfast held at Parliament House in Canberra. The event was organised by the Australian Catholic University.

Since 2014, when the first prayer breakfast was held, the Australian Catholic University has annually brought together representatives of different religions to pray together and discuss important topics. These meetings promote dialogue and mutual respect between parliamentarians, diplomats, and leaders of religious communities.

In his welcoming speech, Vice-Chancellor and President of the Australian Catholic University, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, said: “Nearly ten years ago, when this event was first launched, we envisioned it as a space where leaders from across the religious and political spectrum could come together to celebrate the diversity and tolerance that holds our nation together. Since then, the Federal Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast has become a cornerstone of our commitment to open dialogue—a platform where conversations could take place concerning our democracy, our community, our culture, and the role that faith plays in our everyday lives.”

This year’s interfaith breakfast was the eighth in a row. The parliamentarians were able to communicate with leaders of more than twenty religious communities, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and others.

The event concluded with prayers read by representatives of five different religious communities.