https://rcdow.org.uk/news/a-journey-into-hope-celebrating-60-years-of-nostra-aetate/
A Journey into Hope: Celebrating 60 Years of Nostra Aetate
Tuesday 28 October 2025 marked the 60th Anniversary of the ground-breaking Second Vatican Council document on interreligious dialogue, Nostra Aetate.
To celebrate this occasion, over 100 people of faith from parishes, local interfaith forums and community organisations gathered for an evening in Farm Street Church, Mayfair.
In his Foreword to the evening, Cardinal Nichols commended a new translation of Nostra Aetate, undertaken by Fr Michael Barnes SJ, which 'helps us to realise our own calling to dialogue, "in our time"'.
Cardinal Nichols also wrote that '2025 marks not only this significant anniversary, but also a Jubilee Year, to which our beloved late Holy Father gave the theme "Pilgrims into Hope". Tonight, you will hear how interreligious dialogue might help us to become pilgrims, journeying into hope'.
'A Journey into Hope: Celebrating Nostra Aetate' began with a welcome from Fr Michael Barnes, who spoke of the significance of the document and pointed to the many anniversary celebrations happening across the world, including those in the Vatican with Pope Leo.
Bishop James Curry then addressed the gathering, reflecting on the role of hope in the Catholic Church, something that 'directs our gaze heavenwards, reminding us of the radical insufficiency of this ever-changing world'. Bishop James pointed to those dialogues that Nostra Aetate made possible, namely: Pope St John Paul II’s interreligious gathering for Peace at Assisi in 1986; Pope Benedict’s meeting with religious leaders during his visit to the UK in 2010 and the transformation of the Church’s relationship with the Jewish community.
Bishop James also praised the work of Westminster Interfaith, who organised the celebration, and have worked for over 40 years in the Diocese to deepen the Catholic Church’s relationship to people of faith. Quoting from Pope Benedict’s interreligious gathering in the UK in 2010, Bishop James reaffirmed the Diocese’s commitment to dialogue: 'Let me assure you that the Catholic Church follows the path of engagement and dialogue out of a genuine sense of respect for you and your beliefs. Catholics, both in Britain and throughout the world, will continue to work to build bridges of friendship to other religions, to heal past wrongs and to foster trust between individuals and communities'..
Representatives from religions were invited to share readings on the theme of hope. The evening concluded with a reflection, where hope was compared to a flickering candle, something which illuminates our paths and guides our steps. In a moment of silence, the congregation shared a light of hope. As they lit each other’s candles, the dark night was conquered by a warming, peaceful glow.
It was, for the Diocese, a celebration of the fruits of these past 60 years, and a commitment to look ahead joyfully, using dialogue to embark once again on a journey into hope.
The final event in Westminster Interfaith’s 'A Journey into Hope' series, Examining Nostra Aetate, is a lecture given by Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald M. Afr. OBE on Monday 9th March 2026 at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.
For more details and to reserve your place, please see here.
You can also find the link to Fr Michael’s translation of Nostra Aetate and the order of service from the evening on the website, here Resources - Diocese of Westminster.
If you’d like to keep up to date with future events, please sign up to the newsletter Get the latest from Diocese of Westminster. Or drop a line to James Holland | Coordinator of Ecumenism and Westminster Interfaith at jamesholland@rcdow.org.uk, so that he can keep in touch with you.
Rev Fr Allan R Jones CRIC Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, Stopsley, Luton said, “ The event reminded of what the present Pope Leo said in his message to the 8th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Kazakhstan last month. He called upon all the faithful of all religions to help build a future of peace, fraternity, and solidarity. He said, religions are wellspring of healing, not source of division.”
Rev Anne Crosby, Vicar of C of E Parish of Luton, St Anne with St Christopher, who attended the event said, “Gathering with the Diocese of Westminster to mark sixty years to the day of Nostra Aetate was a true joy — celebrating the enduring call to dialogue, friendship, and understanding among faiths. During this Catholic Year of Jubilee, we reflected on the theme of hope — hope grounded in the words and teaching of God as each of our faiths understand them.”
She added, “As 1 Peter 3:15 reminds Christians, we are to ‘always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that is in us — yet with gentleness and respect.’ This gathering was a living expression of that hope — shared across faiths, strengthened by our common desire for peace and renewal.”
The Luton Council of Faiths Volunteer Dr Anwer Usmani, who also attended the event said, “It was amazing to see what was written 60 years ago is so relevant for current times. It was, and it is indeed, a prophetic document.”
Rev Canon David Lawson, Chair of GRASSROOTS Luton said, “It was a privilege to be present at the Westminster Interfaith Event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Catholic Church's document 'Nostra Aetate' ('In our Time'). This document marked the beginning of a new journey of inter religious dialogue for the Catholic Church and indeed all Christians. The event was a testimony to just how far we have travelled in inter faith co-operation and dialogue, the Luton Council of Faiths being one of the fruits of that journey.The journey continues in faith, hope and love.”
Luton faith leaders attended the 60th Anniversary of the ground-breaking Second Vatican Council document on interreligious dialogue, Nostra Aetate, held in Farm Street Church, Mayfair, London
From L to R: Fr Allan Rev Fr Allan R Jones CRIC Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Luton Catholic Parish Church of Stopsley, Rev Anne Crosby, Vicar of C of E Parish of Luton, St Anne with St Christopher, Dr Anwer Usmani, Luton Council of Faiths Volunteer, Rev Canon David Lawson, Chair of GRASSROOTS Luton