Young Catholics & Mormons to meet with Prime Minister and MPs

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
WELLINGTON– A large group of young people from the Catholic and Latter Day Saint faith communities will join together for a visit with New Zealand’s leaders at Parliament next week.
Around 40 young adults are excited to be learning more about how our diverse nation is governed, and the parliamentary environment when they have lunch with Prime Minister John Key and several Members of Parliament on 25 June.
The visited is jointly organised by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations and the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.
“Although we come from very different faith communities, and acknowledge the differences theologically, we come together to build understanding, friendship and celebrate the many faith traditions that contribute to our national identity,” says Sr Catherine Jones smsm, Chair of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Committee for Interfaith Relations.
“It’s also an opportunity to discuss with the MPs the place of faith and religion in our community, social concerns such as child poverty and homelessness, in a way that shows how young New Zealanders consider these to be important,” says Sr Catherine.
While at Parliament, the youth delegation will tour the building, exchange with some MPs on the place of faith in New Zealand society, and also hear from the Speaker of the House David Carter.
MP Su’a William Sio, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will host the youth delegation to Parliament.
The previous day, Tuesday 24 June, the group will assemble personal care kits for men at the Wellington Night Shelter, visit the Wellington Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, learn about Caritas, and attend a devotional service in Porirua.
Elder Kevin W. Pearson, a member of the Latter-day Saints’ Pacific Area Presidency, will speak to the young adults on Tuesday evening, and also participate in the visit to Parliament on the 25th.
Sr Catherine will attend the two-day event and speak to the young people on Tuesday evening.
A similar visit took place for LDS youth in 2012, but this is the first time it has been extended to make it an interfaith event.
For more information please contact Sr Catherine Jones, smsm: [email protected]

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