By Corey Everitt
Cardinia is strong for each faith group’s common spirit and connection which was on full display on Sunday 21 April with this year’s Interfaith Fair.
Organised by Cardinia Interfaith Network for the last ten years, this year’s fair was at the Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre.
The day saw a range of local groups come together from Pakenham Uniting Church, Pakenham’s St Karas & St Severus Coptic Orthodox Church, Hallam’s St. Mina and St. Marina Coptic Orthodox Church, Cardinia Senior Citizens Group, Casey Cardinia Muslim Community to Pakenham’s The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Backed by Cardinia Shire Council the event was also attended by Mayor Kowarzik, also joined by Federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood and State Eastern Victoria MP Renee Heath.
“People were able to listen from all these religious leaders and representatives how they are connecting to communities,” organiser at Cardinia Interfaith Network, Shoheli Sunjida said.
“Whether they are providing education, free food, shelter, anything going through each group.”
The network started this fair ten years ago and does much more outside of the event.
They also initiated a day for schools to visit places of worship to learn about different religions and promote interfaith connection.
These school days were put on hold during the pandemic, but the network wishes to begin such activity again.
Sunjida gave thanks to the council for their ongoing support and said the network wants to see other faith groups be a part of the network and to have volunteers to help with events such as these.
The network also meets monthly at the Cardinia Shire Civic Centre on the first Thursday of each month where participants can contribute to the ongoing activity of the network to help local residents.
“It’s a fun day irrespective of all beliefs, we are all celebrating together,” Sunjida said of the network’s fair.
“I have been talking to a lot of people in the area who don’t know where to go for help, this is one of the places they can reach out for that information.”
Anyone who is interested in the Cardinia Interfaith Network are encouraged to contact Sunjida via email at shoheli.sunjida@yahoo.com.au or the secretary, Vinod at vinod.mishra@me.com.
