Catholic church hosts interfaith Thanksgiving service

Nov 24, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Buddhists, Baptists, Jews and Unitarians joined Catholics at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Daytona Beach Monday at the fifth annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

More than 400 people attended, of all ages and ethnicities and representing 21 different religious groups, prayed and gave thanks.

Attendance at the service was an indication of the success of a grassroots religious group, called FAITH (Fighting Against Injustice Towards Humanity), which tackles problems in the city, said one participant.

"It is important that we build bridges, not walls," Catholic pastor Fr. Philip Egitto told the Orlando Sentinel. "We have to look at what we have in common rather than our differences."

Rabbi Gary Perras of Temple Israel in Daytona Beach told participants that he hoped there would come a day in the future when "regardless of creed, we would all see each other as family."