Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations

The Catholic Church is called to participate in the quest for unity by promoting Ecumenical and Interfaith relations, as mandated by the Second Vatican Council. All the faithful are urged to seek unity with their separated Christian brothers and sisters and to acknowledge and respect the truth found in all religions. It is therefore essential that each parish, as a part of its mission, seek ways to further unity.

At Church of the Good Shepherd, this mission is facilitated by the Parish Ecumenical and Interfaith Representatives (PEIRs). The representatives are two parishioners who have been designated by the pastor and tasked with communicating and coordinating local ecumenical and interfaith activity. They are laypeople who have completed a certification program for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for Catholic Ministry at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

The PEIRs' responsibilities include:

• Fostering a deeper ecumenical and interfaith awareness among parishioners.
• Answering questions parishioners may have relating to ecumenical and interfaith matters and assisting in contacting the Archdiocesan Officer for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, if needed.
• Building relationships with Christian churches of other denominations as well as non-Christian faith communities in Beverly Hills and surrounding areas.
• Encouraging, facilitating and coordinating parish participation in local ecumenical and interfaith activities.
• Representing the parish, when appropriate, with local ecumenical and interfaith organizations.
• Serving as a liaison between the parish and the Archdiocesan Officer for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. 
  Our GSBH Parish Liaison: Sandra Bossi at christianunity@gsbh.org

Interfaith Dialogue During Uncertain Times: Father Ed & Rabbi Sherman

Community Prayer Service Hosted by

Church of the Good Shepherd

"Thus it is absolutely clear that ecumenism, the movement promoting Christian unity, is not just some sort of "appendix" which is added to the Church's traditional activity. Rather, ecumenism is an organic part of her life and work, and consequently must pervade all that she is and does." Ut Unum Sint, 20 – 1995 Encyclical by Saint Pope John Paul II

The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings. This divine wisdom is the source from which the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to be different derives. Document on Human Fraternity - Signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on February 4, 2019