Saint Thomas Catholic Parish in Lenasia was the setting of a profound witness to unity and compassion during the Interfaith Week of Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World, held from August 18 to 23, 2025.

Organized in collaboration with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Department of Interreligious Dialogue, the initiative drew its inspiration from the recommendations of the recent G20 Interfaith Forum, highlighting the urgent need for solidarity in the face of global suffering.

In a statement shared with the SACBC Communication Office, the Coordinating SACBC Secretary for the Department of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Dialogue with the Secular World described the event as a powerful witness of solidarity, compassion, and hope.

For six evenings, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, people of diverse faith traditions gathered to pray, reflect, and take action. Participants included representatives from the Catholic Church, Muslim and Hindu communities, the Brahma Kumaris, Anglicans, Christians for Palestine, other Christian denominations, and civil society activists.

Fr Bonaventure Mashata, a member of the congregation of the Missionaries of Africa (MAfr) noted that the gathering’s purpose was twofold: to pray for those suffering in war-torn regions such as Sudan and Gaza, and to address the struggles of the marginalized and poor closer to home in Lenasia. He emphasized that the event was not only interfaith in nature but also deeply action-oriented, combining prayer with concrete gestures of compassion.

The program unfolded as a journey of shared hope, dialogue, and compassion. It opened with an evening of interfaith prayer and reflection, setting a tone of solidarity for the days that followed. The Brahma Kumaris contributed with reflections on spiritual harmony, while discussions on hunger drew attention to the devastating reality of food insecurity in conflict zones and in Lenasia.

 Voices from Christian leaders, activists, and members of other traditions emphasized the urgent need for compassion and justice. The week also featured the symbolic lighting of candles for peace each night, a gesture that united all participants in a visible commitment to reconciliation and healing.

On Friday, August 22, Fr. Mashata MAfr offered a reflection on interfaith collaboration. He reminded those present that “we are meant to be not only peaceful religious people but peacemakers inspired by the candle of peace we lit every day.”

The week concluded with a gesture of compassion, as volunteers from all faiths worked side by side to prepare and distribute meals, ensuring that more than five hundred people received food, a gesture Fr. Mashata MAfr described as “a lived expression of compassion and unity, ensuring that food—so often weaponized in conflict—is instead a gift of dignity and life.”

In his statement, Fr. Mashata MAfr, noted that the week was far more than a program of interfaith activities. It was a movement of hearts and hands committed to peace, justice, and the dignity of all people. Each evening’s conclusion, marked by the sharing of bread, stood as both a symbol of unity and a pledge to continue working together against hunger and injustice.

“This was not only an interfaith event, but a commitment to walk together as a family of faiths, proving that compassion knows no boundaries,” Fr Mashata MAfr affirmed.