Mission Statement:
“Building mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation among Jews, Catholics, and all people of good will by providing opportunities for interfaith education and dialogue.”
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Center for Catholic-
E-
©Copyright Center for
Catholic-
Sponsoring Partners:
A collaboration of the American Jewish Committee & Saint Leo University
History (cont)
The Center is open to all members of the community, and each year chooses a topic for its annual conference that seeks to promote greater understanding between the two faiths. The year 1999 celebrated the founding of the Center. Along with Rabbi James Rudin of the AJC, Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop John J. Nevins of the Diocese of Venice, and Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr President of Saint Leo University, the founders included leading members of the West Florida communities like John Sykes, CEO of Sykes Industries; Thomas V. Draude, Senior Regional Vice President of USAA; Thomas Buckridge, Senior Director of Global Operations and Delivery for Citicorp Travel Payment Services; Carol Siegler, President of the West Coast Florida Chapter of the American Jewish Committee and a member of its national board; Mark Mahaffey, President of the Mahaffey Co.; the late Dr. Ben Sischy, M.D., immediate past president of the American Jewish Committee, West Coast Florida Chapter, as well as many others.
The objectives of the Center are to educate the public on issues germane to both religions and to foster intellectual discussion, as seen from both points of view. Together in the spirit of the Hebrew Tikkun Olam [trying to repair/improve the world], the Center models and promotes tolerance, justice, and compassion in a world so torn by strife and prejudice among religions and nations only intensified by the events of September 11. These objectives are met through conferences, town hall meetings, interreligous dialogue, and gatherings of young Jews and Catholics sharing their faith together.
The Eternal Light Award
Each year the Eternal Light Award is presented to an individual who has exhibited outstanding contribution in the cause of interfaith relations and human rights.
In a world increasingly full of prejudice, intolerance and discrimination, it is all the more important that religious communities model the opposite, that is, the real possibility of tolerance and mutuality and common commitment to heal the wounds of our human family.
Because our Jewish and Catholic communities play such a prominent role in the life
and culture of both Florida and our nation as a whole, we as the Center for Catholic-