Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento gathers at Capitol Park Rose Garden for unity, peace and mutual respect

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Faith leaders, community members and supporters of interreligious cooperation gathered Thursday, June 25, at the Capitol Park Rose Garden for a public interfaith event hosted by the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento.

Set against the backdrop of one of Sacramento’s most recognized civic spaces, the gathering brought together representatives of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and other spiritual traditions in a shared call for understanding, respect and peace.

The event was led by the Rev. Kay Daly of the Church of Scientology and featured speakers from a broad cross-section of Sacramento’s religious community. Participants included the Very Rev. Dean Matthew Woodward of Trinity Cathedral; Rabbi Nancy Wechsler of Congregation Beth Shalom; Asif Haq of SALAM Islamic Center; Father Tom Bonacci of the Interfaith Peace Project; Bishop William Swing of the United Religions Initiative; Gurjatinder Randhawa of the Sikh Community of Elk Grove; and Sister Hansa of the Brahma Kumaris. Music was led by Aaron Thompson of St. Francis of Assisi.

The message throughout the event was clear: peace among nations begins with peace among people, and peace among people requires honest engagement across lines of religion, culture and philosophy.

“There will be no world peace without religious peace, and there will be no religious peace until people of diverse faith, culture and philosophy meet, engage and respect each other,” organizers said.

A civic gathering rooted in shared values

The Capitol Park Rose Garden provided a symbolic setting for the gathering. Surrounded by flowers, trees and the grounds of California’s state Capitol, the event emphasized both the beauty and responsibility of pluralism. In a region known for its diversity, the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento used the occasion to highlight the role religious communities can play in strengthening civic life.

Speakers reflected on the importance of building relationships before conflict arises and of recognizing the dignity of others even when beliefs differ. Rather than focusing on theological differences, the gathering centered on values shared across traditions: compassion, service, justice, human dignity, and the pursuit of peace.

The presence of clergy and lay leaders from multiple faith communities demonstrated the council’s ongoing commitment to bringing people together in public spaces where dialogue can be visible, accessible and constructive.

Faith leaders call for respect and engagement

The Very Rev. Dean Matthew Woodward of Trinity Cathedral represented the Christian tradition with a message of openness and community responsibility. Rabbi Nancy Wechsler of Congregation Beth Shalom added a Jewish voice to the program, underscoring the importance of memory, dialogue and moral responsibility.

Asif Haq of SALAM Islamic Center represented Sacramento’s Muslim community, while Father Tom Bonacci of the Interfaith Peace Project spoke from years of work in interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding. Bishop William Swing, founder of the United Religions Initiative, brought an international perspective to the gathering, reflecting the global importance of cooperation among religious traditions.

Gurjatinder Randhawa of the Sikh Community of Elk Grove shared the Sikh community’s commitment to service, equality and fellowship. Sister Hansa of the Brahma Kumaris contributed a spiritual message centered on inner peace, reflection, and the transformation of consciousness as a foundation for social harmony.

Together, the speakers reinforced the idea that interfaith work is not merely ceremonial. It is practical, timely, and necessary. In a world marked by polarization, religious intolerance, war and social fragmentation, the simple act of meeting, listening and standing together carries moral weight.

Music and celebration

Music for the event was led by Aaron Thompson of St. Francis of Assisi, adding a celebratory and reflective element to the program. Music has long played an important role in interfaith gatherings, offering a shared language beyond words and helping participants experience a sense of unity across traditions.

The event also included a joyful moment in which attendees tossed rose petals into the air, creating a vivid symbol of hope, blessing and celebration. The image captured the spirit of the gathering: people of different backgrounds standing side by side, not in uniformity, but in harmony.

The role of interfaith cooperation

Interfaith councils serve a vital role in modern communities. They provide a structure for religious leaders and community members to know one another, support one another and respond collectively to moments of crisis or need. They also help reduce misunderstanding by creating opportunities for people to encounter traditions other than their own in a spirit of respect.

In Sacramento, where numerous religious and cultural communities live and work together, the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento has long emphasized the importance of dialogue as a foundation for peace. The June 25 gathering continued that work by bringing faith representatives into a shared public setting and affirming the value of cooperation.

The message was especially relevant at a time when religious identity is sometimes used to divide communities. Speakers and participants demonstrated a different approach: faith as a force for healing, bridge-building, and public service.

A public witness for peace

The gathering at the Capitol Park Rose Garden was more than a meeting of religious leaders. It was a public witness to the idea that peace is built through relationship. The event invited people to move beyond tolerance alone and toward active respect — the kind of respect that comes from meeting, engaging and listening.

That theme was reflected in the day's central statement: There can be no world peace without religious peace, and religious peace depends on people of diverse faiths, cultures, and philosophies coming together.

For the Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento, the event served as both a celebration and a call to action. It reminded participants that peace is not abstract. It is practiced in conversations, shared spaces, mutual recognition, and the willingness to stand together for the common good.

As rose petals filled the air above the gathering, the symbolism was unmistakable. In the heart of California’s capital, people from many spiritual paths came together to affirm a shared hope: that understanding can overcome suspicion, respect can answer division, and communities can build peace when they choose to meet one another face to face.