Statues of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and St Francis of Assisi have been unveiled at the interfaith Peace Park on the grounds of the Buddhist Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo. Source: Sandpiper.
Sandhurst Bishop Shane Mackinlay unveiled and blessed the statues on March 14 in the park in the Bendigo suburb of Maiden Gully.
The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is a pilgrimage place for Buddhists from around the world.
It aims to provide a refuge of peace and serenity for all. The Peace Park is dedicated to interfaith harmony and the statues of these two saints standing side-by-side in newly created stone grottos represent the shared values of Catholicism and Tibetan Buddhism.
Ian Green, chairman and director of the Great Stupa, said, “The installation of these two great figures in the Peace Park is a powerful symbol of faith and unity. It is our hope that this installation not only reflects the rich Catholic heritage of Australia but also fosters a spirit of interfaith dialogue and peace.”
Sisters of Saint Joseph congregational leader Sr Monica Cavanagh spoke of the life of St Mary MacKillop and her persistence in the face of adversity. She said that St Mary had instilled in her Sisters the values of unity, harmony, peace and forgiveness and was, therefore, a good fit for the Peace Park.
During the blessing, Bishop Mackinlay prayed that all who look upon the image of St Mary MacKillop in the Peace Park may be inspired by her faith, encouraged by her example, and strengthened in their own journey of discipleship.
The restored statue of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and animals, was unveiled and blessed on the day, but is not new to the Great Stupa grounds.
In fact, it was the first item to be placed in the Peace Park and was originally unveiled and blessed by former Sandhurst Bishop Leslie Tomlinson in May 2018.
Due to some deterioration of the paint work, the statue was repaired and painted by Great Stupa resident artist, Lucy Wang, and now takes its place alongside St Mary MacKillop.
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St Mary MacKillop and St Francis of Assisi bring Catholic Spirit to Buddhist Peace Park (Sandpiper)
