The theme of unity in diversity wound through all four days of this year's Building Inclusive Communities (BIC) Conference held at Mount St. Mary's Doheny Campus Aug. 5-8.

"The diversity and culture we have is a big challenge to the church," Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis told BIC attendees on the opening day. "Opening the door to diversity has been the thrust of the church in the new millennium."

Bishop Solis, ordained to the episcopacy in February and now heading Los Angeles' Archdiocesan Office of Ethnic Ministries, spent the last 15 years in Louisiana ministering to French Cajun and African-American parishes. Born in the Philippines, he brings with him to Los Angeles his experiences in building bridges between diverse communities.

Acknowledging that the Los Angeles Archdiocese is one of the most diverse in the country, he said, "To realize the mission of building inclusive communities, we have to have a clearer understanding of who comprises our church today. In our archdiocese we have people of many cultures, varying languages and races that talk and worship alongside one another as a faith community."

In sharing his varied and often humorous experiences with the audience, he noted, "I come here today with everything in my heart after 15 wonderful years in Louisiana. I don't know what I did wrong but they appointed me bishop."

This year's conference featured new and innovative workshops and speakers. A new Spanish track for first-year attendees on Saturday and Sunday presented workshops on effective communication and challenges in interethnic America.

Also new were interreligious workshops featuring a visit to a Islamic mosque and speakers from the religious communities of Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

"BIC has always dealt with ethnic and cultural entities. We determined what was lacking was the interreligious component to help people build communities where they can live together," said Father Alexei Smith, head of the Archdiocesan Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. "I think it was a marvelous immersion experience for attendees."

On Friday participants visited the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation Mosque in south Los Angeles during Friday's prayer service. They were hosted by the director of the foundation, Dafer M. Dakhil, who spoke to them about the similarities and differences between Christian and Islamic religions.

"In much of the Muslim world there is a life of oppression," said Dakhil. "I predict we will see Muslim traditions of the West, in the U.S. and Western Europe, going East. Here we have more freedom and can express ourselves how we like."

In response to questioning he spoke about the Islamic tradition of Jihad and explained that, despite how it is represented in the media, it has nothing to do with terrorism or murder. He explained that in Islam war is strictly regulated and only allowed against armed insurgents. The innocent are never targeted.

BIC participants who visited the mosque and attended workshops with interreligious church leaders were ecstatic in their praise of this new conference feature.

"We're very blessed to be here and see how we are all trying to be one," said Caridad Mangubat a parishioner at St. Gerard Majella Church in Los Angeles. "This is the seed. Coming to the mosque is an awakening because we get to meet very good Muslims. How can we live in peace if we don't know one another?"

Transfiguration Church parishioner Barbara Starks said the mosque visit is "another journey in finding out about the people around us. The bottom line is that we are all on a journey and we are going to the point that meets God --- no matter what you call him."

Father Smith called the interreligious experiences a success. He was pleased that many attendees came to him afterwards and told him that everyone should have an experience like this.

"I told people that 'now it is up to you to bring this back to your local communities,'" he said.

On Saturday the interreligious theme continued with speakers from various religious communities. Rabbi John Borak detailed his conversion from Catholicism to Judaism and stressed that religion is a language to talk to God. Hindu Swami Sarvadevanada spoke about temple life. Sikh Simran Kaur Khalsan explained the rituals and symbols of her religion. Buddhist monk, Venerable Jue Wei presented Buddhist beliefs and ways of worship and spoke on how her community is using educational outreach to help bring peace to the world.

"Through looking at building inclusive communities from the point of view of different religions instead of just race and culture you can really see where the commonalities exist for all," said Frances Jonte, director of the Rite of Christian Initiation at St. Joseph Church in Hawthorne. "The Mosque visit and the interreligious speakers brought home that we're all believing in one God, which is the bottom line. You can't love what you don't know."

Hermine Lees contributed to this story