Sydney: In a powerful display of unity and mourning, the Archdiocese of Sydney transformed its annual Christmas light show into a solemn memorial for the victims of the recent terror attack at Bondi Beach, drawing hundreds of thousands of people from across faiths and communities to the forecourt of St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral.
Speaking in the aftermath of the tragedy, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said the city’s familiar Christmas tradition took on a profoundly different meaning this year. Just three days after the mass shooting that claimed 15 lives, what is usually a joyful celebration of the Nativity became an evening of prayer, remembrance, and collective resolve against hatred and violence.
Each Christmas season, the façade of St. Mary’s Cathedral is illuminated with vivid projections depicting biblical scenes and stories of faith, attracting families, young people, and visitors from across Sydney. This year, however, the archdiocese chose to dedicate the event to those who lost their lives at Bondi Beach.
“We felt it was important that our city gather, grieve, and remember together,” Archbishop Fisher told Vatican News, explaining that the light show was intentionally reshaped into a service of remembrance rather than celebration.
The memorial brought together an extraordinary cross-section of Australian society. Jewish rabbis, leaders of multiple faith traditions, the Prime Minister, the Premier of New South Wales, and citizens from all walks of life stood side by side in front of the Cathedral.
Prayer formed the heart of the gathering, with participants recommitting themselves to building what the archbishop described as “a peaceful society where everyone is respected and loved.” Fifteen candles were lit one for each of the victims killed in the attack. Representatives of Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim communities were invited to light candles, underscoring the interfaith solidarity that marked the evening.
The climax of the light display featured a projected image of a menorah accompanied by the Jewish phrase, “May their memory be a blessing,” a tribute that resonated deeply with the Jewish community and the wider public.
While discussions have begun about establishing a permanent memorial at Bondi Beach, Archbishop Fisher noted that the site itself has already become a place of remembrance. He described how countless bouquets of flowers continue to arrive in overwhelming numbers.
“They’re being delivered in such quantities that they have to be moved away to make space for more,” he said, observing that the spontaneous outpouring of grief has effectively transformed the location into a living monument where people gather to pray and reflect.
The archbishop placed the attack within the broader context of mounting social tensions in Sydney over the past two years, particularly linked to differing views on the Israel–Gaza war. He said global conflicts and political divisions have spilled into local life, sometimes erupting in deeply troubling demonstrations.
While acknowledging the right to hold and express differing opinions, Archbishop Fisher warned that some protests have exposed a latent antisemitism that has now escalated into violence. He spoke candidly about rhetoric that dehumanizes entire communities, noting that such language fuels radicalization, particularly among young people.
“When people speak as though peace is impossible and suggest violence as the only solution, it creates an environment where attacks like this can occur,” he said.
The attack coincides with the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark Second Vatican Council document calling on Catholics to reject all forms of antisemitism. Yet Archbishop Fisher stressed that the document’s message must be taught anew in every generation.
“Antisemitism is a recurring hatred in human history,” he said. “Again and again, we must call people to love the Jewish people.” For Christians, he added, this responsibility carries particular weight, given Christianity’s Jewish roots.
He recalled how Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II repeatedly affirmed that Christians are spiritually descended from the Jewish people. “In that sense,” he explained, “we owe them a reverence similar to what we owe our parents.”
To counter the resurgence of antisemitic attitudes, the archbishop said the Church must intensify its efforts through preaching, education, and the promotion of respectful dialogue. Disagreement, he emphasized, must never descend into hatred or violence.
Although the Jewish community was directly targeted, Archbishop Fisher stressed that the entire city has been deeply shaken. Mass shootings are rare in Australia, with the last occurring in 1996, and many Australians have long assumed such violence could not happen at home.
In response, the archdiocese has focused on pastoral care, grief support, and counselling. Schools, social services, and Church-run agencies have been made available to assist, particularly as Jewish community services have been stretched by the scale of the trauma.
“We pray for the dead, and we stand with those who are grieving,” the archbishop said, adding that emotional and spiritual support is essential in helping people recover from fear and shock.
Despite the pain, Archbishop Fisher described the Christmas light show memorial as a hopeful step forward. An estimated half a million people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral, united in their desire for peace and mutual respect.
“There was a strong sense that people want to be a unified, respectful, and loving community,” he said. He noted that leaders of other faiths agreed the Cathedral was the right place for the memorial, given its long history of bringing people of different beliefs together.
In a city still reeling from violence, the transformed light show stood as a quiet but powerful affirmation that remembrance, solidarity, and shared humanity can shine even in the darkest moments.