Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has joined other religious, political and community leaders in paying tribute to the interfaith ambassador, Jeremy Jones AM, who worked for more than four decades on behalf of the Jewish community to promote harmony between religious faiths in Australia and internationally.
Mr Jones died earlier this month after a long illness, at the age of 64. He has been farewelled in a moving prayer service at the Jewish funeral home, Sydney Chevra Kadisha in Woollahra, followed by a burial service at Macquarie Park Cemetery in North Ryde.
The director of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Commission for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, Sr Giovanni Farquer SJ attended the services alongside representatives from many other faith traditions to support Mr Jones’ family and the Jewish community in their grief.
Mr Jones was a great role model in the field of interfaith dialogue, making history as the first Australian to serve on the Board of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations: the Jewish world’s interlocutor with the Vatican, the World Council of Churches and the World Muslim League.
In a letter of condolence to the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, Archbishop Fisher paid tribute to Mr Jones who had been a personal friend of his since school and university days.
“He was a great advocate of interfaith dialogue, especially Jewish-Christian relations. His dedication to this work took him all the way to the Vatican as a participant and interlocutor with Bishops, Cardinals and even the Pope!” Archbishop Fisher explained.
Read the article by Michael Kenny in The Catholic Weekly.