St. Joseph Church

Ecumenical and Interreligious

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Last Updated on Friday, December 19, 2008 23:00

Among one of the most important concerns for Pope John Paul II concerning the coming millennium is ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. St. Joseph Church has been and is involved in a number of activities aimed at promoting understanding among the various religious bodies in Bristol, and to some degree, in the Archdiocese. Each year St. Joseph Church participates in an ecumenical Thanksgiving service and Good Friday service. The parish adult, youth, children's and handbell choirs are very active in their participation with area churches combining for worship and prayer services as well as concerts. The adult choir of St. Joseph has recorded a CD of sacred music with area churches.

St. Joseph Church is also connected to the Connecticut Interreligious Committee For Understanding. Deacon Robert M. Pallotti is member of the Committee representing the Board of Directors for the Office of Urban Affairs for the Archdiocese of Hartford. This committee is dedicated to the task of practical ecumenism directed toward collaboration of the various religious traditions in helping to build justice and peace in our world. The founding principle of the committee is that there can be no peace in the world and the local community without peace among the religions.

The Connecticut Interreligious Committee For Understanding was founded by Rev. Richard Griffis of the Capitol Conference of Churches, Dr. Marie Hilliard, and Deacon Robert M. Pallotti of the Justice and Peace Commission for the Archdiocese of Hartford,Rev. Steven Sidorek of Chriscon, and members of the Jewish Federation of Hartford. Founded in 1994 for the purpose of organizing a program and a group dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and working for a global ethic founded on justice and peace, the committee has continued to exist to promote ongoing dialogue and praxis for building a world that honors every human person.

The results have been twofold:

+ Two successful conferences in November 1996 and March 1997, with the theme Many Faiths, One Mission: Building World Community. Featured keynote speakers were Catholic Bishop Daniel O'Reilly in 1996, and Rev. William Sloan Coffin in 1997.

+ A public response to the attacks on Connecticut Muslims following the bombing in Oklahoma City and the bombing of black churches in the South of the United States.

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