1. Interfaith Symposium on Death and Dying 7-9 April 2010 Hosted by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

2. Session One: Welcome Very Rev Denis Stanley Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

3. Session One: Welcome Professor Anne Hunt Dean of Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University

4. Session One: Opening Hon. James Merlino, MP Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs

5. Session One: 1 st Keynote speaker Most Rev Christopher Prowse Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sale

6. Session One: 2 nd Keynote Speaker Mr Julian Gardner Lawyer Victorian Public Advocate from 2000-07

7. 10.30am-11am: Morning Tea Served in the foyer

8. Office of the Public Advocate www.opa.vic.gov.au Information and forms about enduring powers of attorney etc

9. Session Two: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part One) Rev. Merrill Kitchen OAM Principal Churches of Christ Theological College 2000-2010

10. Session Two: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part One) Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn Chief Minister of the St Kilda Shule

11. Session Two: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part One) Professor Abdullah Saeed Director of Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne

12. Session Three: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part Two) Indigenous Speaker Mr Djon Mundine OAM Indigenous Curator – Contemporary Art at Cambelltown Art Centre

13. Session Three: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part Two) Hindu Speaker Dr Navaratnam Shanmuganathan Speaker and Educator in Hinduism

14. Session Three: The cycle of life, death and afterlife (Part Two) Buddhist Speaker Venerable Thich Phuoc Tan OAM Abbot of Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook

15. Session One: Political Issues surrounding Death and Dying facing Religious Communities Keynote Speaker Mrs Inga Peulich MLC State Liberal Member for the South Eastern Metropolitan region

16. Session two: Rites of passage for the dying - the role of the Funeral (Part One) Jewish Speaker Mr Ephraim Finch Executive Director of the Melbourne Chevra Kadisha

17. Session two: Rites of passage for the dying - the role of the Funeral (Part One) Secular Speaker Ms Trish Goullet Director of White Lady Funerals

18. Session two: Rites of passage for the dying - the role of the Funeral (Part One) Indigenous speaker Ms Vicki Clarke Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Melbourne

19. Session three: Rites of passage for the dying and the role of the Funeral (Part Two) Hindu Speaker Dr Jayant Bapat Hindu Priest

20. Session three: Rites of passage for the dying and the role of the Funeral (Part Two) Christian Speaker Dr Margaret Smith SGS Lecturer at Yarra Theological Union and Catholic Theological College

21. Session three: Rites of passage for the dying and the role of the Funeral (Part Two) Muslim Speaker Sheikh Riad Galil Imam of the West Heidelberg Mosque

22. Jewish Christian Muslim Confernce July 1-4, 2010 Warburton A four day live in conference for anyone who belongs t o these three religious traditions contact David at ecum@cam.org.au for more informationecum@cam.org.au

23. Friday, 9 April: “The process of dying” Two book titles: Given as gifts to all the speakers at this conference: “Death and Religion in a Changing World”, edited by Kathleen Garces-Foley (2006: M. E. Sharpe) Recommended by Ephraim Finch yesterday: “The Jewish Way in Death and Mourning”, by Maurice Lamm (1969,2000: Jonathan David Publishers)

24. Session One: The Value of Life and the Value of Death: A Christian / Buddhist / Rationalist Dialogue Christian Speaker: Rev. Dr John Dupuche Chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee Buddhist Speaker: Ms Di Cousens Melbourne Sakya Centre Rationalist Speaker: Ms Lyn Allison Democrat Senator for Victoria 1996-2008, Committee member of Rationalist Society of Victoria

25. 10.15am-10.35am Morning Tea Morning tea is served in the room next door (turn right and down the corridor)

26. 10.35-12pm Second session: The Role of Faith or Non-faith in Palliative Care Keynote Speaker: Dr Michelle Gold Head of the Palliative Care Unit at the Alfred Hospital

27. 10.35-12pm Second session: The Role of Faith or Non-faith in Palliative Care Buddhist Response Venerable Beom Hyon Social Worker with integrated Palliative Care Unit at Northern Hospital, Epping

28. 10.35-12pm Second session: The Role of Faith or Non-faith in Palliative Care Muslim Response: Dr Salih Yucel Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies, Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, Monash University

29. 12noon-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session (Time available for those wishing to attend Fitzroy Mosque for Friday Noon Prayer) 12.45-1.30pm Lunch Break

30. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Leader: Mrs Gwenda Rait Catholic Interfaith Committee

31. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Christian Readings: Patricia Chaves East-West Meditation Foundation

32. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Psalm 139: 7-11 Where can I go from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven You are there; and if I descend to Hell, You are there. And if I take the wings of the morning, And fly to the farthest side of the sea, even there will Your hand guide me, and Your right hand will hold me. And if I say, "Surely only darkness will cover me and the light be night around me“ Even the darkness is not dark for You, and the night shines like the day. The darkness and the light are both alike for You.

33. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session From the Letter of St Paul to the Ephesians 3.14-19. “This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.”

34. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly Silence Ring of the bell

35. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Buddhist Reading Di Cousens Spiritual Director of Sakya Choekhor Lhunpo

36. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session The Mangala Sutta Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling near Savatthi in the Jetavana monastery built by Anathapindika (a wealthy merchant of Savatthi). Then a certain deity at midnight, having illuminated the whole Jetavana grove with surpassing splendour, came to the presence of the Blessed One. Having worshipped the Blessed One, he respectfully stood at one side; and addressed the Blessed One in verse:

37. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session The Mangala Sutta 1.Many gods and men Have pondered on auspicious signs Wishing for blessings. Please tell us the most auspicious signs 2.Not to associate with fools But to associate with the wise And to honour those worthy of honour, This is the most auspicious sign. 3.Living in a suitable locality And good deeds done in the past, To set oneself in the right course, This is the most auspicious sign.

38. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session The Mangala Sutta 4.Great learning and skill in work A highly trained discipline And well-spoken speech, This is the most auspicious sign. 5. Looking after one’s mother and father Caring for one’s wife and children And unconfused actions, This is the most auspicious sign. 6.Generosity and a righteous life, Caring for one’s relatives And blameless actions, This is the most auspicious sign.

39. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session The Mangala Sutta 7.To abhor and avoid all evil, Abstention from intoxicants And diligence in righteousness, This is the most auspicious sign. 8.Reverence, humility, Contentment and gratitude. Hearing the Dhamma at the right time, This is the most auspicious sign. 9.Patience and compliance And seeing the monks. Opportune discussion of the Dhamma, This is the most auspicious sign.

40. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session The Mangala Sutta 10.Self-restraint and a holy life, Seeing the Four Noble Truths And realising nirvana, This is the most auspicious sign. 11.When affected by worldly conditions, If one’s mind remains unshaken; Sorrowless, stainless and secure, This is the most auspicious sign. 12.Those who perform such auspicious deeds Are undefeated by all enemies And gain happiness everywhere. These are the most auspicious signs.

41. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly Silence Ring of the bell

42. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Sikh Reading Harbhinder Singh Blackburn Gurdwara

43. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Celtic harp, played by Cath Connelly Silence Ring of the bell

44. 12pm-12.45pm Joint Reflection Session Thanks and break for Lunch From ‘Promoting interfaith Relations’ (Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne 2009) “The sacred texts of each other’s faith are heard with deep respect, acknowledging that in them, somehow, God has spoken.... “In this way we “manifest our respect for the prayer of others and for the attitude of others before the Divinity… “As a result of such listening we sense their faith and observe that God’s Word is also at work in them. And so we are caught up in the Word of God together.”

46. 3 rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced the experience of dying Keynote Speaker: Dr Bruce Rumbold Professor of the School of Public Health, La Trobe University

47. 3 rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced the experience of dying Sikh Respondents: Mr Harbhinder Singh Community Worker Blackburn Gurdwara Mr Sukhwinder Rakhra Occupational Therapist, Royal Melbourne Hospital

48. 3 rd Session: Experiences of Death: stories from those who have faced the experience of dying Jewish Respondent: Ms Deborah Masel Author, editor and teacher with a special interest in the Jewish mystical tradition.

49. 4 th Session: Future Challenges Facing the Life and Dying Debate Keynote Speaker: Mr Mehmet Osalp CEO of ISRA Australia (Islamic Sciences and Research Academy of Australia) Responses and comments from the Audience

50. 4.45pm Closing Thanks Very Rev. Denis Stanley Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and Chair of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commmission Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne