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September 2021 Issue 116
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
From the Editor 2
Pictures on the Front Cover 3
Interfaith Activities During the Covid-19 Pandemic
4
Vatican Messages to Faith Com-munities (General)
6
Vatican Messages to Muslims 8
Vatican Messages to Buddhists 10
Vatican Messages to Jains 9
Vatican Message to Hindus 13
Vatican Message to Sikhs 15
Inter Faith Week 2021 / Interfaith Buddies
16
Special Days and Weeks 17
Contacts, Courses and Events 18
Calendar of Religious Festivals 20
De Mello: Work and Play 24
Season of Creation
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From the Editor
Welcome to Issue 116 of the Newsletter!
We are sorry it arrives so late. It should have come out in May last year, but Covid-19 restrictions and the furlough scheme have held it up for nearly 18 months. It is now the Autumn 2021 edition and there is a lot to share – too much for this issue. We shall reflect on some interfaith events and news from the past eighteen months and look forward to future events. Other events will have to wait till the next edition.
Despite the restrictions, I was able to participate in numerous interfaith ac-tivities throughout the country and beyond during the pandemic, on a vol-untary basis, wearing different hats. I shall report briefly on some of them.
We felt it was useful to refer to the Vatican messages for the various reli-gious festivals. They were full of hope and represent almost a summary of interfaith relations between the Catholic Church and different religions over the past eighteen months.
Throughout the pandemic, all faiths worked hard to ensure their members, and others, were cared for. It involved a lot of cooperation at the local lev-el, especially in ministering to those in need irrespective of faith alle-giance. It has not been easy for anyone. Places of worship were closed, so it was not possible to come together physically as a community. It certain-ly was not possible to celebrate major or minor festivals. These took place mainly online thanks to Zoom or similar facilities. Restrictions were eased occasionally for some events like funerals and weddings, but only for small groups of people, maintaining social distancing and wearing masks.
Overall, however, most places of worship remained closed. It seems we may be returning slowly to some level of normality, so I am delighted to catch up where we left off in March last year and reflect on some relevant features of the past eighteen months and look to the future with a sense of optimism, despite many worrying and tragic events around the world, in Africa, Afghanistan, Haiti and in many other areas which affect us all.
Be assured of my prayers and good wishes for the coming months.
Jon
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Pictures on the Front Cover The four pictures on the front cover of this issue highlight some of the events of the recent past and look ahead to the future.
The blue picture on the top left This image is a reminder of how members of the Jain community responded im-mediately to the Covid pandemic by inviting people of all faiths and none to unite in prayer for the end of the pandemic. The invitation arrived as the first lockdown was announced on Thursday, 19 March 2020. For me, it seemed a most appropri-ate day. The Catholic Church was celebrating a Year dedicated to Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. 19th March was his feast day – a spe-cial day. The invitation to unite in prayer was for Friday 20 March 2020 at 20.20 hours (8.20pm) for 20 minutes, hence Prayer 20:20:20. A musical meditation was also included but we were invited to pray in any form, length, language, or religion for the common good and open our hearts and compassion to those suffering around the world. For many months, this was a regular appointment every Friday night. As restrictions were eased, in some countries, the invitation to unite the world in prayer and spread a wave of love and care to all affected by the Covid-19 pandemic became a monthly commitment on the 20th day of every month. I am pleased to report this wonderful initiative will continue. The picture on the top right The flooded landscape reminds us of the floods and other ecological disasters caused by climate change throughout the period of the pandemic. These catastro-phes will continue unless, collectively at a global level, we change our lifestyle and take drastic measures to protect our environment. September is a good time to start or begin again, especially on 1st September, which Pope Francis has identified as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and heralds the Season of Cre-ation. The picture on the bottom right Just below the flooded landscape, there is a poster advertising Climate Action for Peace, which we are all called to support. We pray that World leaders will find sensible and effective solutions to the climate crisis when they meet in Glasgow in November at the COP-26 Conference. The picture on the bottom left The shofar, ram’s horn, is used to herald Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the beginning of the High Holy Days. We hope and pray that the blowing of the shofar will sound as a wake-up call for us all and will breathe new life into our troubled world, which for the past eighteen months has been somewhat out of breath.
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Interfaith Activities During the Pandemic
Although I was furloughed about 18 months ago, I have been busy with interfaith ac-tivities, which are not connected with my work for Westminster diocese. I was able to carry out interfaith activities voluntarily in different ways:
1. As a resident in South London and deacon for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark.
2. As chaplain for the Roman Catholic Caribbean community.
3. As the interfaith representative for the Focolare Movement in Western Europe.
1.As a South London resident, I regularly participated in the monthly activities orga-nized by the South London Inter Faith Group (SLIFG). It gave me a great joy to meet up with other members via Zoom and participate in various religious festivals and talks by invited guests.
One recent event stands out for me. It took place at the end of Ramadan 2021. It in-cluded a meeting with Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Sheik Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali and Julie Siddiqui. They shared thoughts on two documents: The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Togeth-er, also known as the Abu Dhabi declaration or agreement, which was signed jointly by Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Fratelli Tut-ti, the social encyclical by Pope Francis published in October 2020 to coincide with the feast of St Francis of Assisi. The speakers considered both documents important and relevant to the present situation. They covered a lot of topical issues and generat-ed a lively discussion with the participants. I think we all agreed the texts need fur-ther study and wider distribution. To conclude, we were all invited to participate in an online Iftar.
2. As chaplain to the Catholic Caribbean community did not involve me too much with interfaith activities except with issues related to ‘Black Lives Matter’ and en-couraging members of the community to get vaccinated against Covid-19. It had been suggested that the take up among ethnic minorities was very low. This was not the case with the Catholic Caribbean community, but it gave me the opportunity to reconnect with other ethnic groups.
3. As interfaith delegate for the West Europe zone of the Focolare Movement, there was a lot more involvement throughout the year and led to many international events.
An interreligious dialogue meeting had been planned to take place at the Focolare Centre near Rome in April 2020, as part of the celebrations for the 100th birth anni-versary of the founder, Chiara Lubich. It was cancelled because of the pandemic. So, in May, the Centre decided to produce a video celebrating nearly 60 years of inter-faith relations, from an early inspiration of Chiara Lubich when she met the Bangwa
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people in Cameroon in 1962 to the present with contributions from Buddhists in Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan, Jews in Argentina, Hindus in India, Muslims in the USA, and Sikhs in Birmingham. We used parts of the video on many online events.
Also in May, Pope Francis and the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity called on all religious leaders and faithful around the world to take part in a day of fasting, prayers, and supplications for the good of all humanity and for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were asked to include people of different faiths. Amazingly, in un-der 48 hours, we got together members of different Christian denominations and a group of Muslims to pray for peace, reconciliation, and cooperation among peoples and for the end of the pandemic. We thank God for helping us put it together.
In July, the Focolare Movement in Great Britain held its annual retreat, called a Mari-apolis. It had to be online. It was decided to hold several workshops on topical issues. One of them was on interreligious dialogue. Despite a few technical problems, we had excellent participation from the Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities. The online Mariapolis was a success. Many people who would not normally be able to participate because of distance, costs or immobility were able to take part from their own homes. The interreligious workshop gave us the impetus to carry on our re-lationship with different faith communities throughout the year and offer monthly in-troductory sessions to members of the Movement, who were keen to learn about dif-ferent faith traditions. These sessions led to a deepening of relationships on different topics, which we are planning to continue. There are plans to have physical in person encounters in the near future, possibly during Inter Faith Week in November.
The Focolare Movement is committed to environmental issues and tackling the prob-lems of climate change. It is heavily involved in the Laudato Si’ Movement. Inevita-bly, this has led to cooperation with different faith groups who share the same aims. These issues have been the basis of many Zoom conferences and talks.
Wearing different hats also enabled me to take part in events that had been planned before the pandemic, which probably would have attracted fewer participants if they had been held in a venue. I would like to mention just two events. The National Jus-tice and Peace Network had invited me to share thoughts on the importance of inter-faith dialogue. I gave a talk on ‘Going to God Together’ and shared experiences of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement and Brother Daniel Faivre, found-er of Westminster Interfaith, who both made an important contribution to interfaith relations. Southwark Unity Commission wanted to look at the relationship between ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. It was a fascinating meeting, which attracted more people than expected. There is still much to discuss on this topic.
Lockdown has also afforded me the possibility of participating in many events around the country and abroad. It has been a great gift to have people from Europe and beyond take part in events in England thanks to Zoom. A priest friend often calls it Saint Zoom!
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Vatican Messages to Faith Communities The Vatican has been sending messages to the followers of different religions for many years since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The first message was sent to Muslims in 1967, just three years after Pope Paul VI set up the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) on 19 May 1964, during the Second Vatican Council, even before the publication of Nostra Aetate, the document, which opened relations with different faith communities. As relations developed with other faith communities, the PCID started sending them messages for their major festivals. At present, the PCID sends regular greetings to five religious groups: Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. Maybe others will follow. Messages to Muslims Since 1967, the PCID has sent greetings to Muslims every year for the holy month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. On two occasions the messages were sent and signed by the Pope on behalf of Catholics throughout the world: in 1991 by Pope John Paul II at the end of the first Gulf War, and in 2013 by Pope Francis in the first year of his pontificate. Good relations between the Catholic Church and Muslim com-munities continue to be a priority. Successive popes have demonstrated this com-mitment by regularly meeting Muslim leaders and visiting predominantly Muslim countries. Pope Francis has made interreligious dialogue and encounter an essential aspect of his ministry. The necessary relationship with people of different faiths features in all of Pope Francis’ encyclicals especially in his most recent one, “Fratelli tutti” where he encourages Christians, indeed all people, to actively pur-sue cordial relations with people of all faiths and none. Messages to Buddhists and Hindus In 1997, the PCID started to send a message to Hindus for the celebration of Deepavali / Divali, the annual festival of lights, and to Buddhist communities for the feast of Vesakh / Hanamatsuri, the birth anniversary of Buddha. We are now celebrating the 25th anniversary of these greetings. Messages to Jains and Sikhs More recently, just ten years ago, in 2011, the PCID began sending greetings to Jains for the birth anniversary of Mahavir and to Sikhs for their celebration of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary. I wonder if other faith communities will be included. Distribution of the messages These messages are usually sent to the apostolic nuncio in each country, who pass-es them on to the Catholic bishops and to those responsible for interreligious rela-tions in each diocese. Normally, as the interfaith representative for Westminster Di-ocese, I would send out these Vatican messages to the local parishes with a brief note about the festival and the community for the parish Newsletter as well as a
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short prayer for the faith community. Of course, I send or take the message to the various faith communities with my own greetings for their festivals. I have often been asked to read the message to the community if I have visited in person. The Pontifical Council urges that these messages should be circulated as widely as pos-sible among the relevant faith communities. I usually invite parishes to take the messages to places of worship and faith organisations in their area, so that a per-sonal contact is made with the local faith community. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not been possible to distribute the greetings as widely as desired. These messages can also be used as a form of introduction, whenever vis-iting a place of worship for the first time. The content of the message is usually topical and relevant and appreciated by the recipient. The most recent messages Since March 2020, the Vatican has sent eight messages to different faith communi-ties: two greetings each to Buddhists, Jains, and Muslims, and one greeting to Hin-dus and to Sikhs. As usual, each greeting offers insights on current and pressing needs and refers to recent papal publications. They are a valuable record of inter-faith relations between the Vatican and members of different faiths. The titles of each of the messages highlight the needs of the time. They invite Christians to work closely with their neighbours of different faiths on a variety of projects and themes. I had intended to include all the messages in this newsletter, in chronological order, in their entirety, from March 2020 till now, but decided instead to group the mes-sages according to the faith and to just include a summary and a comment on each of the messages. All the messages coincide with a major festival: Hanamatsuri in April for Buddhists; Mahavir Jayanti for Jains also in April; Vesakh for Buddhist usually in May; Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr for Muslims also in May in 2020 and in 2021; Divali for the Hindus in October / November; and Guru Nanak’s birth anni-versary for Sikhs towards the end of November. Religions not included so far There are no official Vatican messages, as far as I know, for Baha’is and Zoroastri-ans, although I usually send greetings to them on their major festivals. I also send messages to the Jewish communities, who are also excluded by the PCID because another Vatican department deals with them: the Commission for Religious Rela-tions with the Jews, which works alongside the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The full text of the Vatican messages can be accessed on the Vatican or the PCID websites. The Catholic Bishops’ Conferences and some diocese also include them on their websites. A few parishes may have the most recent messages posted on their websites.
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Vatican Messages to Muslims The Vatican has been sending regular annual greetings and messages to Muslims for Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr since 1967. A clear indication that the Vatican wanted to build close ties with Muslim communities and carry out the teachings of the Sec-ond Vatican Council. This was not the first message ever sent to Muslim leaders. There is a precedent, mentioned in Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions. Pope St Gregory wrote a letter to An-zir, King of Mauretania, nearly nine hundred years before, in 1076, thanking him for gifts received and for freeing some prisoners. In the letter, the Pope explains that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, and both practice the Golden Rule of not doing to others anything they do not want to be done unto themselves (cf. Mt. 7.14). Quoting St Paul, he wrote that God “is our peace who has made us both one” (Eph. 2.14). Perhaps the Vatican was influenced by this precedent. Both messages in 2020 and 2021 address Muslims as brothers and sisters indicating a closer relation than with people of other religions, who are referred to as friends. Indeed, relations with the Muslim community goes back a long time and every Pope since Vatican II has regularly welcomed, at the Vatican, or visited Muslim leaders and communities around the world, often accompanied by members of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, who regularly send the annual greet-ings. The messages usually start by recognizing the importance of the holy month of Ramadan as a time for spiritual healing and growth, of sharing with the poor, of strengthening bonds with relatives and friends. It is a time of fasting, prayer, alms-giving, and other pious practices, which bring us closer to God our Creator and to all those with whom we live and work. Message to Muslims 2020 The message to Muslims for 2020 was probably written before we were experienc-ing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. It focused on protecting places of wor-ship at a time when there had been many attacks on them “by wicked persons who seem to perceive the places of worship as a privileged target for their blind and senseless violence”. It quoted from the Document on "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together", signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi, on 4 February 2019, which stated: "The protection of places of worship - synagogues, churches and mosques - is a duty guaranteed by religions, human values, laws and international agreements. Every attempt to attack places of worship or threaten them by violent assaults, bombings or destruction, is a deviation from the teachings of religions as well as a clear violation of international law."
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The message reminds us that places of worship occupy an important place in Christianity and Islam, and in other religions as well. ‘For both Christians and Muslims, churches and mosques are spaces reserved for prayer, personal and com-munitarian alike. They are constructed and furnished in a way that favours silence, reflection and meditation. They are spaces where one can go deep in himself/herself, so favouring for God-experience in silence. A place of worship of any reli-gion therefore is "a house of prayer"’ (Isaiah, 56,7). Places of worship are also spaces for spiritual hospitality, where believers of other religions also join for some special ceremonies like weddings, funerals, feasts of the community etc. While they participate in the events in silence and with due re-spect to the religious observances of the believers of that particular religion, they also savour the hospitality accorded to them. Such practice is a privileged witness to what unites believers, without diminishing or denying what distinguishes them. Message to Muslims 2021 This is a message of hope. It invites Christians and Muslims to be witnesses of hope. It recognizes the effects of the pandemic and the months “of suffering, an-guish and sorrow", especially during the lockdown periods, "we sensed our need for divine assistance, but also for expressions and gestures of fraternal solidarity". It mentions the many small gestures: a telephone call, a message of support and comfort, a prayer, help in buying medicines or food, advice to simply "show the security of knowing that someone is always there for us in times of necessity". This need for divine assistance "is manifold". "Yet, what we need most in these times, is hope". God loves us, and therefore cares for us through his providence". The message reminds us that Pope Francis speaks regularly of hope in his most re-cent encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti. " In it, he says, “I invite everyone to renewed hope, ‘for hope speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, in-dependently of our circumstances and historical conditioning. Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfilment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, good-ness and beauty, justice and love… and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile’. Let us continue, then, to advance along the paths of hope”. The message concludes as it began by inviting Christians and Muslims “to be bearers of hope, for the present life and for the life to come, and to be witnesses, restorers and builders of this hope, especially for those experiencing difficulties and despair". As a sign of spiritual solidarity, it assures Muslims of prayers and best wishes for a peaceful and fruitful Ramadan, and for a joyful ‘Id al-Fitr.
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Vatican Messages to Buddhists
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) has regularly sent a message to Buddhists since 1997 to celebrate either Vesakh or Hanamatsuri sep-arately or both together. For Theravadin Buddhists, Vesakh, often called Buddha Day, celebrates three important stages of the Buddha’s life: his birth, his enlight-enment under the Bodhi tree and his passing away. All are said to have taken place at the full moon of the fifth month. The message is usually prepared in four languages: English, French, Italian and Chinese. I usually send the message to parishes in English and in Chinese and English to Chinese Buddhists. For many years, a member of Westminster Interfaith has been invited to deliver the English message to the Chinese community at their celebrations in London at Leicester Square Gardens. It is always received with great joy and the full text is usually included with the service sheet for the day. Unfortunately, Buddha’s Birthday celebrations have not taken place since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. I have also sent the French version to friends in France, Belgium, and Luxem-bourg, who have been happy to pass the message on to Buddhists they know. Hanamatsuri, on the other hand, is celebrated by Mahayana and Japanese Bud-dhists as the Buddha’s birthday. On this occasion, the PCID often sends the mes-sage in English, French, Italian and Japanese. In some years, the PCID sends separate messages for these festivals, in other years, only one message is sent for both celebrations. Vatican message to Buddhists 2020 In 2020, only one message was sent for both Vesakh / Hanamatsuri, yet they fell on separate days, a month apart. Hanamatsuri on 8th April and Vesakh on 8th May. The message arrived as we entered the first period of Covid lockdown. It was ap-propriate for the situation we were all in. It encouraged Christians and Buddhists to “construct a culture of compassion and fraternity” to alleviate human and eco-logical suffering. The message referred to the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which Pope Francis signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019 with Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. It stated that “authentic teachings of religions invite us to remain rooted in the values of peace; to defend the values of mutual understanding, human fraternity and har-monious coexistence”. It also drew an example from the life of Buddha and St Francis. Prince Siddhartha set out in search of wisdom by shaving his head, renouncing his princely status, and trading his silk garments for the simple robe of a monk. Saint Francis of Assisi cut his hair and traded his fine clothes for the simple robe
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of a mendicant because he wanted to follow Jesus, who “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (Philippians 2:7) and had “nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Their example and that of their followers, the message states, ‘inspire us to a life of detachment in view of what is most important. Thus, in consequence, we may more freely devote ourselves to fostering a cul-ture of compassion and fraternity for the alleviation of human and ecological suffering’. The PCID also reminded us that this was their 25th message to Buddhists and that they wanted to continue the spirit of friendship and collaboration established over the years. The message ends with an invitation to pray for all those who are affected by the coronavirus pandemic and for those who are caregivers and to encourage our faithful to live this difficult moment with hope, compassion, and charity. Vatican message to Buddhists 2021 In 2021, Hanamatsuri fell as usual on 8th April and Vesakh on 26th May, yet the PCID sent a joint message again to coincide with the festival of Vesakh. It invit-ed Christians and Buddhists to promote a culture of care as a path to peace. It stated that the coronavirus challenged followers of all religions to strengthen bonds of friendship and find new ways of serving humanity together by adopting ‘a culture of dialogue as the path, mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; re-ciprocal understanding as the method and standard.’ This was a quote from “Fratelli Tutti”, Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, which was released on the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on 4 October 2020. The message also pointed out that the suffering caused by the pandemic ‘has made us aware of our shared vulnerability and interdependence. We are called to discover and practice the solidarity enshrined in our respective religious tradi-tions’. It continued with a reference to Buddhist teaching on Brahma Viharas (the four heavenly virtues or abodes). In speaking about mettā (loving kindness), it exhorts followers to extend boundless love to all. ‘As a mother even with her life protects her only child, so let one cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness to-wards all living beings.’ Let us hope and pray that the coronavirus pandemic will “further unite” Catho-lics and Buddhists in the service of the suffering. According to the Pew Research Centre, Buddhists made up roughly 7% of the world’s population in 2015 and half of the world’s Buddhists live in China.
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Vatican messages to Jains
For the last ten years, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has been sending an annual message to the world's Jain community for the holy festival of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak Diwas - Mahavir Jayanti, which usually oc-curs in April. In 2020, it was celebrated on 6 April and 25 April in 2021. This festival celebrates the birth anniversary and life of Tirthankar Vardhaman Mahavir. Lord Mahavir, whom Jains revere as the 24th and last Thirthankara, lived in the 6th century BC. The Thirtankaras are teachers of the Jain faith - or dharma, way of life - who are venerated for having overcome earthly desires and attach-ments. Jainism teaches “a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disci-plined nonviolence (ahimsa, literally ‘noninjury’) to all living creatures”. Vatican Message to Jains 2020 The message in 2020 invited Christians and Jains to promote together a culture of conviviality in our homes and communities, joining hands with people of other faiths and of good will, so that people may live together in peace, harmony, and prosperity, with love and happiness. It stated: “Conviviality is living together with an attitude of sharing life’s goods and gifts with one another - joyously and generously. It displays sharing of re-sources: natural, human, material and spiritual. It is living in agreement but also living with differences, while respecting diversities: ethnic, religious, social, and cultural. It is about living in harmony with nature and ensuring equality and justice for all. It is also working together for the common good.” Tirthankar Mahavir taught 2600 years ago, “Have benevolence towards all be-ings”. Christianity teaches, “Love your neighbour as yourself”. “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hun-gry” (Luke 3: 11). Vatican Message to Jains 2021 The message in 2021 acknowledged the challenging times of the Covid-19 pan-demic. It thanked Jains for their friendship and collaboration “in fostering the spir-it of fraternity, not just between Jains and Christians, but also among people of di-verse religious traditions. It also expressed the Vatican’s appreciation for the Jain community’s "compassionate services rendered individually and collectively to those affected by the present pandemic, in different parts of the world." Quoting Pope Francis who said "No one 'rebuilds' by himself or herself; nobody can start over alone", the message encourages Jains and Christians to be 'bearers of hope' and to rebuild hope in the present and post-pandemic world.
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"Rebuilding hope in the present pandemic times can usher in a future in which hu-mans will have learned to unite all their forces and resources to eliminate all forms of 'viruses' - even the social ones like inequality, injustice, religious fundamental-ism, extremism, racism, unhealthy nationalism and exploitation of the most vulnera-ble of society- which not so infrequently come in the way of a harmonious and peaceful coexistence among individuals and communities."
On a personal note, I remember receiving a message from a Jain friend, at an ashram in India, during the week that the first lockdown was announced, in March 2020, inviting me to join them in interfaith prayers for the end of the pandemic every Friday evening starting on 20 March 2020 at 20.00 hours for 20 minutes. It was titled Uniting the World in Prayer: Pray 20:20:20. All people, all places, all faiths were invited to spread a wave of love and care for all affected by coronavirus. Every week, I would receive the invitation, which included a musical meditation. As the effects of the pandemic subsid-ed, the invitation to prayer became monthly on the 20th of every month at 8pm (20.00 hours) for 20 minutes. The pray-er sessions are still going on. What a wonderful, positive
and useful way to build interfaith cooperation across political and geographical bor-ders and religious divides.
Vatican Message to Hindus 2020
The Vatican message for the festival of Diwali / Deepavali on 14 November 2020 invited Christians and Hindus to rekindle positivity and hope during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. It hoped that “this very meaningful feast” would “dispel eve-ry cloud of fear, anxiety and worry, and fill your hearts and minds with the light of friendship, generosity and solidarity!” The message pointed out that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) had been sending Diwali messages to Hindus for 25 years, so it was also a celebration of a fruitful mutual relationship between Christians and Hindus, which the PCID wished to continue “as a means of working together for our good and for the good of all humanity”.
Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 13
The Feast of Diwali is celebrated by all Hindus, and is known as Deepavali, or the “row of oil lamps”. Symbolically, it represents the victory of truth over lies, of light over darkness, of life over death, and of good over evil. The celebration usu-ally lasts at least three days, marking the beginning of a new year, family reconcil-iation, especially between brothers and sisters, and worship of God. In 2020, the feast was celebrated at home and online by many Hindus because the temples were closed due to Covid restrictions. However, the online celebrations attracted participation from far and wide. For instance, at Neasden Temple, devo-tees from all over the world logged-on to the festivities. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, hope was the main theme. The PCID wished “to encourage a positive spirit and hope for the future, even in the face of apparently insurmountable obstacles, socio-economic, political and spiritual chal-lenges, and widespread anxiety, uncertainty and fear”. This hope was based upon the common conviction that “God, who created us and sustains us, will never abandon us” for “it is precisely trust in God's providence that inspires us to remain optimistic and to work to rekindle hope in the midst of our societies.” The message suggested that “the pandemic has brought a number of positive changes in our way of thinking and living, despite the unprecedented suffering it has caused worldwide and the lockdowns that have disrupted our normal life. Ex-periences of suffering and a sense of responsibility for one another have brought our communities together in solidarity and concern, in acts of kindness and com-passion for the suffering and those in need. Such signs of solidarity have led us to appreciate more deeply the importance of coexistence, the fact that we belong to one another and that we need one another for the well-being of all and that of our common home.” As Pope Francis noted at the General Audience, on 2 September 2020, "solidarity today is the road to take towards a post- pandemic world, to-wards the healing of our interpersonal and social ills", and "a way of coming out of the crisis better". The message concluded inviting Christians and Hindus to join all people of good will to work together to build and spread a culture of positivity and hope in our so-cieties not just now in these difficult times but in the future, “through gestures of care, affection, kindness, gentleness and compassion which are more contagious than the coronavirus itself.” Truly an inspirational message of hope in the face of adversity and very much in tune with the themes of Deepavali.
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Vatican Message to Sikhs On this tenth anniversary of Vatican messages to Sikhs, which fell on 30 Novem-ber 2020 and commemorated ‘the birth of light’ in the person Sri Guru Nanak Dev, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), wished that the festival would usher in “a light of renewed hope among you, and peace and joy in your lives, families and communities”, during these difficult times of coronavirus pandemic. The PCID thanked the Sikhs for their valued friendship and collaboration, and “for the humanitarian services that are generously being rendered by the Sikh community in different parts of the world to people affected by the current pan-demic”. As with other messages, the PCID invited Sikhs and the Christians, to nurture a culture of hope among and with all people. Hope, as Pope Francis said, is “the humble virtue, the virtue that courses beneath the water of life that keeps us from drowning in the many difficulties” we face in life. “Despite despairs and desperations that we experience, it is hope that makes us go forward.” “The ‘virtue of hope’ easily unites humans, rebuilds confidence and reignites the passion to live.” People who display hope send out the message that hope is contagious. It is possible and necessary for the present and future of humanity. “The unprecedented spirit of service and solidarity, by individuals, communities and various groups including interreligious groups that we have wit-nessed during these pandemic times, is a profound and sure indicator that build-ing ‘a culture of hope’ involves people of all creeds and cultures.” The message referred again to Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti, in which he repeats that hope springs from our religious conviction that God who created us and who sustains us will never abandon us and that “we are part of one another, that we are brothers and sisters of one another” and therefore, we are re-sponsible for one another and for our ‘common home’. This conviction should make us reach out, “with generous acts of kindness and compassion” to those most affected by the pandemic “in particular those who seem to have lost hope due to the loss of their loved ones, their livelihoods, jobs and dreams for a secure future. The message invited Christians and Sikhs to do all they can, individually, collec-tively, and together with others, towards promoting a ‘culture of hope’ in society by becoming more and more “beacons of hope, as promoters and guarantors of fraternity” and encouraging others to do the same. The message concluded with best wishes for “a serene and joyous Prakash Diwas of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji!” In 2021, the festival falls on 19 November.
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Inter Faith Week 2021
This year Inter Faith Week takes place from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 November. 75 days to go from 1 September. The aims of Inter Faith Week, which is led by the Inter Faith Network (IFN), are to: · Strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels · Increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, cel-ebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society · Increase understanding between different people of religious and non -religious beliefs The Week is timed to begin each year on Remembrance Sunday to enable people of different backgrounds to remember together the service of soldiers and civilians of all faiths and beliefs and to reflect on peace. For more information, visit: https://www.interfaithweek.org/resources/remembrance Scottish Inter Faith Week Scottish Interfaith Week is led by Interfaith Scotland and has this year been brought forward to the earlier time of Sunday 31 October – Sunday 7 November to coincide with COP26. https://scottishinterfaithweek.org/; Its theme this year is Together for our Planet. Inter Faith Buddies I have friends who joined this scheme last year and they are still talking. Inter Faith Buddies is a scheme designed by IFN to bring individuals together to engage in dialogue. The scheme involves two people of different faiths or beliefs: keeping in touch on a weekly basis for 6 weeks; choosing or developing questions on which to share their thoughts and experiences; and if they wish, sharing at an in-person or online event, in an agreed way, some reflections on what they have gained from the experience. It is an opportunity for sharing and learning, on a one-to-one basis across a limited period of time, about what is important to us, in the context of our wider commu-nity. The process may, of course, lead to longer term conversations and new forms of practical co-operation. Interested in taking up the idea within your organisation? Visit: https://www.interfaith.org.uk/resources/inter-faith-buddies for more information
and practical pointers.
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Special Days and Weeks
Season of Creation Christians all over the world celebrate the Season of Creation, from the Day of Creation on 1 September till 4 October, Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
United Nations International Peace Day 21 September. Many nations and reli-gious groups celebrate by organizing events and activities to promote a culture of peace. In 2015, The UN Member States adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which covered a wide range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, ed-ucation, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice.
National Hate Crime Awareness Week takes place from 9-16 October https://nationalhcaw.uk/;
Interfaith Week of Prayer for World Peace takes place from 10-17 October https://www.weekofprayerforworldpeace.co.uk; One World Week will take place from Sunday 17 to Sunday 24 October. www.oneworldweek.org;
COP26: United Nations climate change conference 1-12 November. For nearly three decades the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits – called COPs – which stands for ‘Conference of the Par-ties’. In that time climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global pri-
ority. This year will be the 26th annual summit – giving it the name COP26. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow. Fifth World Day of the Poor falls this year on Sunday 14 November, Remem-brance Sunday and the start of Inter Faith Week. See Pope Francis’ message for this day on the Vatican website, http://www.vatican.va Mitzvah Day Sunday 21 November, is an annual day of faith-based social action led by the Jewish community where people give their time to make a difference to the community around them. Many events and projects held for the day have an in-ter faith focus. www.mitzvahday.org.uk/ Sewa Day is a day of faith-based social action led by the Hindu community. It nor-mally takes place on 4 dates across the year. Due to COVID there are currently no fixed days; rather, ‘every day is Sewa day’ and volunteers are helping people con-tinually as they are able. https://sewaday.org/
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Contacts, Courses and Events For information on courses and events, please contact the relevant organization directly or check their website. Thank you.
Inter Faith Network UK 2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0410 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.interfaith.org.uk ; Faiths Forum for London 62 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3J M: +44 7880795955 Website: www.faithsforum4london.org
The Ammerdown Conference & Retreat Centre Ammerdown Park, Radstock, Bath, Somerset BA3 5SWT T: 01761 433709 E: [email protected]; [email protected]; View programme online at: www.ammerdown.org/courses Book on web-site or contact Tina Hartnell: 01761 433709 [email protected]
Sion Centre for Dialogue and Encounter 34 Chepstow Villas, W11 2QZ Tel: 020 7727 3597 / 020 7313 8286 E: [email protected]; Web: www.sioncentre.org; See Autumn 2021 Programme online: London Interfaith Centre 125 Salusbury Rd London NW6 6RG http://londoninterfaith.org.uk/ Enquiries to [email protected] Central London Inter Faith Meetup Westminster Quaker Meeting House, 52 St Martins Lane WC2 N 4EA Every Friday from 6.50pm website: https://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Inter-Faith-Meetup
Drop In Silence, 5.30-7pm Details: DropInSilence.org; Near Neighbours Web: www.near-neighbours.org.uk Christian Muslim Forum Web: www.christianmuslimforum.org;
Christian Muslim Marriage Support Group Contact Rosalind or Heather confidentially through the inter faith marriage website: www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/185782491456844/ Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group Meets 3rd Wednesday of the month 4-5pm in Hinsley Room, Morpeth Terrace, SW1P 1QN From Westminster Cathedral Piazza, walk to your right, past St Paul’s bookshop and the school, to a fenced garden between the play-ing fields. Text John Woodhouse 0790 8888 586 or E: [email protected] St Ethelburga’s Centre 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG; T:020 7496 1610 www.stethelburgas.org; E: [email protected]
See events page on their website Pax Christi St Joseph's, Watford Way, London NW4 4TY Contact Pat Gaffney, T: 020 8203 4884 Or Email: [email protected] Web: www.paxchristi.org.uk; South London Inter Faith Group 1-2.30pm Lunch meeting on last Thursday of the month at Streatham Friends Meeting House, Redlands Way, Roupell Park Es-tate, Brixton Hill, SW2 3LU For details contact: [email protected] North London Interfaith Group Meets monthly to discuss questions in the news about faith, festivals and practices of other faiths. Sr Elizabeth: 020 7272 8048; E: [email protected] Universal Peace Federation (UPF) 43 Lancaster Gate London W2 3NA; Tel: 02072620985; E: [email protected] or visit the website: www.uk.upf.org
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Marylebone Scriptural Reasoning Contact: [email protected]; The Faith & Belief Forum Formerly 3 FF (Three Faiths Forum) Contact Director, Phil Champain, 3FF, Star House, 104 Grafton Road, London NW5 4BA E: [email protected]; Web: https://faithbeliefforum.org; London Peace Pagoda Battersea Park Contact: Rev. G Nagase Nipponzan Myohoji (020 7228 9620) E: [email protected] Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Temple Brickhill St, Willen Lake, Milton Keynes MK15 0BG T: 01908 663 652; E: [email protected] Ham Faithful Friends Contact: Diana Mills
[email protected] Kensington Council of Churches Chris Luxton, [email protected]; Hounslow Friends of Faith [email protected] www.hounslowfriendsoffaith.org Welwyn Hatfield Inter Faith Group 2 Kingsley Court, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 4HZ T: 01707 695351 Web: www.whifgroup.co.uk; Contact: [email protected]; Grassroots - Luton Council of Faiths 47 High Town Road, Luton, Beds, LU2 0BW T: 01582 416946 [email protected] InterFaith MK (Milton Keynes) Convenor InterfaithMK E: [email protected] Website: www.interfaithmk.org.uk St Martin-in-the-Fields Trafalgar Square London WC2N 4JJ www.smitf.org
Gandhi Foundation Contact: William Rhind, [email protected]; Website: www.gandhifoundation.org; The Islamic College 133 High Road, London NW10 2SW +44 (0) 20 8451 9993 [email protected] Woolf Institute Wesley House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BJ T:01223 741038 www.woolf.camb.ac.uk Christians Aware 2 Saxby Street, Leicester LE2 0ND T: 0116 254 0770 [email protected] www.christiansaware.co.uk Multi-Faith Centre (MFC) University of Derby T:01332 591285; E: [email protected] Brahma Kumaris Global Co-operation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, London NW10 2HH Tel: 020 8727 3350 E: [email protected]: Westminster Synagogue and Scrolls Museum Kent House, Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BX T:020 7584 3953 [email protected]; W: www.westminstersynagogue.org Wolverhampton Interfaith T: 01902 427 601 E: [email protected]; For up-to-date details, check website: http://ifwton.org.uk/diary.html
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Calendar of Religious Festivals:
1 Sept INSTALLATION OF GURU GRANTH SAHIB IN HARMANDIR SAHIB Sikh In Amritsar 1604 CE, the 5th Guru, Arjan Dev, installed the volume of scripture, consisting of the hymns of the first five Gurus plus those of other ‘saint-poets’. (Hymns were added to complete the Holy Book: Guru Granth Sahib).
4 Sept FRAVARDIN MAH PARAB Zoroastrian (Shenshai - Parsi) On the 19th day of Fravardin, the first month of the year, Zoroastrians visit the Towers of Silence in In-dia (or in UK the Zoroastrian cemetery in Brookwood, Surrey) to participate in a jashan ceremony in memory of the departed fravashis (guardian spirits and souls of the community).
7-8 Sept ROSH HASHANAH (Head of the Year) Jewish (New Year’s Day, 5780 years from the creation of the world). It marks the start of ten days of repentance and self-examination where G-d judges every individual. The ram’s horn (Shofar) is blown in the synagogue as a reminder of Abraham’s sacrifice of a ram instead of his son, Isaac. Apples dipped in honey are eaten in the hope of a ‘sweet’ new year. Greeting: Leshanah Tovah Tikatev.
10 Sept GANESH CHATURTHI Hindu Birthday of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of good fortune, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Celebrations can last up to ten days concluding with the immersion in water of the image of Ganesh.
11 Sept ETHIOPIAN NEW YEAR’S DAY Rastafarian called Enqutatash, or ‘gift of jew-els’. When the Queen of Sheba returned home from her visit to King Solomon, her chiefs welcomed her by filling her treasury with enku ‘jewels’.
11-19 Sept PARYUSHAN Jain Eight days of purification, devoted to study, prayer, meditation, fasting and ending with a period of confession and forgiveness.
16 Sept YOM KIPPUR (Day of Atonement) Jewish The final day of the ten days of repent-ance, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar, the ‘Sabbath of Sabbaths’. It is marked by ‘afflicting the soul’ – expressed by a total fast lasting 25 hours. Jews spend most of the day in prayer, asking for forgiveness for past wrongs and resolving to improve in the future. The Book of Jonah is read. A common greeting is ‘G’mar Chatimah Tovah’ (‘May you finally be sealed for good’).
19 Sept SAMVATSARI (International Forgiveness Day) Jain This is the last day of Paryushana, which many regard as the most important festival of Jainism. It is the holiest day of the Jain calendar and many Jains observe a complete fast and spend the day in prayers and contemplation, asking for forgiveness from others.
20-26 Sept HIGAN Japanese Higan marks the autumn equinox. Seven day period when the people of Japan commemorate their ancestors. Memorial services often take place at Buddhist temples, and many people visit their family’s graves with special offerings and offer prayers to comfort the spirits of their ancestors.
21 Sept UNITED NATIONS DAY OF PEACE All faiths Many faiths organise interfaith Peace events.
21 Sept RABBIT IN THE MOON FESTIVAL Chinese Mid-Autumn festival celebrates the moon’s birthday. Traditionally, women offer moon cakes to the goddess of the moon. These cakes contain ground lotus and sesame seeds or dates and an image of the crescent moon or of the rabbit in the moon. Children holding brightly coloured lan-terns are allowed to stay up late to watch the moon rise from some nearby high place.
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21-28 Sept SUKKOT—FEAST OF TABERNACLES OR BOOTHS Jewish An eight day harvest festival commemorating the 40 years the Jews spent in the wilderness on the way from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. A temporary hut or booth (sukkah) is set up for eating meals, for visits and socializing. The roof is cov-ered with branches and decorated with fruit. Four species of plant are used: lulav (palm branch), etrog (a yellow citrus fruit), hadas (myrtle) and aravah (willow). NB The first two days (14-15 October) and last two days (20-21 October) are full festival days, when, for Orthodox Jews, work is not permitted.
22 Sept SHUUBUN NO HI Japanese A national holiday on the middle day of higan (see above).
22 Sept AUTUMN EQUINOX (Alban Elued or Alban Elfed) Druid As the shadows lengthen, Pagans see the darker faces of the God and Goddess. For many Pagans, this rite honours old age and the approach of Winter.
28 Sept CONFUCIUS’ BIRTHDAY (551 BC) Chinese Celebrations include musical per-formances and dancing using ancient instruments, wearing traditional costumes and other rites. Good foods are also sampled at night street stalls.
29 Sept SIMCHAT TORAH Jewish ‘Rejoicing in the Torah’, marks the completion of the annual cycle of reading from the Torah. As the reading should be continuous, a sec-ond scroll is begun as soon as the final portion of the Torah has been read from the first scroll; so, as the reading from Deuteronomy ends, Genesis begins without a break - the Torah is a circle that never ends. All the Torah scrolls are paraded around the synagogue, with children, and many adults, dancing and singing, giving as many people as possible the honour of carrying a Torah scroll. Most progressive Jews celebrate one day earlier, combining it with the eighth day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret.
1 October JASHN-E-MEHERGAN / MIHR JASHAN Zoroastrian (Iranian) Ancient autumn fes-tival dedicated to Meher or Mithra, who is associated with the sun and justice. The ripening of the crops and fruits at this time of year is seen as symbolic of the ripening of the world into fullness, before the moment of the ultimate victory over evil. It evokes the physical res-urrection of the body along with its immortal soul, as promised by Ahura Mazda. It is cus-tomary to visit the Fire Temple to offer thanks to the Creator God, to listen to stories, share in a community meal that includes dry fruits and nuts, drinks, dance and have fun.
2 October GANDHI JAYANTI Hindu Indian national holiday celebrating the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Father of the Nation’, with services, prayers, paintings, essays glorifying peace and non-violence and singing Gandhi’s favourite song ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ (Ram Dhun for short).
6-14 October
NAVARATRI Hindu Hindu families gather at this time to participate in circle dances associated with the goddess Durga and with Lord Krishna. Navaratri means nine nights, the length of the festival.
7 October PICNIC IN A HIGH PLACE / CLIMB A HIGH MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL / CHONGYANGJIE / CH’UNG YANG Chinese A day for hill climbing or ‘going up on a high place’. An ancient seer foretold an imminent natural calamity and es-caped by going into the hills. The rest of humanity ignored his warnings and per-ished. Kites are flown, family graves visited, and a ‘golden pig’ is shared by large families with fruit, wine, tea and rice.
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11-15 October
DURGA PUJA Hindu is a celebration of the Mother Goddess, and the victory of the revered warrior Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. The festival honours the powerful female force (shakti) in the Universe. For some Hindus, Durga Puja is the biggest annual festival and lasts several days. In Kolkota hundreds of pan-dals (temporary shrines) are put up. The festival ends with the immersion of figures of Durga in rivers and sea.
14-21
October
INTER FAITH WEEK OF PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE Although it was a Christian initiative that led to the founding of the WPWP in 1974, it soon became an inter-faith activity, and now welcomes everyone, of all faith traditions or none, to take part. Prayers from the literature of different world religions are published each year in a special leaflet. This custom is supported by many different religious communities.
14-15
October
DUSSEHRA / VIJAYA DASHAMI Hindu In north India the day after Navaratri ends is celebrated as the 'victorious tenth' (Vijaya Dashami) and huge figures of Ravana are filled with fireworks and burned on Ram Lila grounds (public areas). In the UK some temple congregations carry this out on a smaller scale.
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October
ANAPANASATI DAY Buddhist observed by monks in the Theravada tradition and is marked by two different ceremonies: Pavarana (14 October) and Kathina ( a robe offering to a particular deserving or virtuous monk) Anapanasati is the last day the Kathina ceremony can be held.
19 Oct MILAD UN NABI / PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (12th Rabi’ul-Awwal) Muslim (Sunni) A public holiday in most Muslim countries (see 15 Nov).
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October
PAVARANA (SANGHA) DAY Buddhist The last day of the 3 months long Rains Retreat (the Vassa). Pavarana means ‘to invite’. On the following day, monks, who have completed the Retreat, invite their fellows to admonish them for any failings or shortcomings. They can start afresh in their practice of the Way.
20 October
CONFERRING OF GURUSHIP ON THE GURU GRANTH SAHIB Sikh In 1708, Guru Gobind Singh (10th Sikh Guru) declared that, instead of having another human Guru, Sikhs would regard the scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, as their Guru.
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October
MILAD UL NABI / PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S BIRTHDAY (17th Rabi’ul-Awwal) Muslim (Shi‘a) Most Shi‘a Muslims celebrate 5 days later than Sunnis. It is a public holiday in many Muslim countries.
31
October
SAMHAIN Wiccan Pagan SAMHUINN Druid This is the Celtic New Year, when the veil between the worlds of life and death stands open. Pagans remember and hon-our those who have gone before. This is not a time of fear, but a time to understand more deeply that life and death are part of a sacred whole.
31
October
HALLOWEEN / WINTER NIGHTS Heathen Traditional activities include trick or treat, bonfires, costumes, etc. As Halloween is a short form for Eve of All Hallows (All Saints), Christians celebrate this day differently.
1 Nov ALL SAINTS’ DAY (All Hallows’ Day) Christian (Western Churches) A chance to offer thanks for the work and witness of all Christian saints, recognizing that not all are known or specially celebrated.
2 Nov ALL SOULS’ DAY Christian From earliest times, Christians have prayed for the souls of the dead. This day began to be remembered in the calendar in 998.
2 Nov ANNIVERSARY OF THE CROWNING OF HAILE SELASSIE I Rastafarian A holy day, which celebrates Haile Selassie’s accession to the Ethiopian throne.
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3 November FEAST DAY OF SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES Christian Martin was probably the first mixed lay brother of the Dominican Order. He is patron saint of the Caribbean community, mixed race people and all those seeking interacial harmony.
4
November
DIVALI / DEEPAVALI Hindu The New Year festival of Light lasts from one to five days. It coincides with the darkest night of the lunar month and is generally as-sociated with Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, or with the victorious re-turn of Rama and Sita to the kingdom of Ayodhya after their exile. For many Hindu business people, Divali marks the beginning of a new financial year.
4 November
DIVALI Jain On this day in 527 BCE Mahavira gave his last teachings and attained ultimate liberation. Lamps are lit and children are given sweets by their parents. Some Jains fast for the two days of Divali, following the example of Mahavira. Jain businesses start accounting year from Divali. Jain New Year starts 13 November.
4 November
BANDHI CHHOR DIVAS / DIVALI (Prisoner Release Day) Sikh On Divali, in 1619, Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, was released from Gwalior prison. He re-fused to accept release unless 52 Hindu princes were also released. To meet Emperor Jehangir ’s condition that only those who could hold on to his cloak could leave the prison, Guru Hargobind had a coat made with long tassels to which all 52 could cling. Time for new clothes, presents and fireworks.
6 November
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE BAB Baha’i The Bab (‘the Gate’) was born in Shiraz, Persia in 1819. He was the prophet-herald of the Baha’i commu-nity and called people to religious renewal and to await the coming of a new messen-ger from God. Baha’is believe that this figure was Baha’u’llah (the title means ‘Glory of God’). Baha’is observe this holy day by abstaining from work. Their gath-erings involve prayers, devotional readings, music and fellowship.
7 November
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF BAHA’U’LLAH Baha’i Founder of the Baha’i faith, he was born the eldest son of a Persian nobleman in Tehran, in 1817.
14 November
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY National The Sunday nearest to Armistice Day (11 November) is devoted to remembering the dead of the two World wars and subse-quent wars.
10-17 November
INTERFAITH WEEK UK National starts on the Sunday nearest to Armistice Day. IFW aims to strengthen good interfaith relations, increase awareness of the dif-ferent and distinct faith communities and increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs.
12 November
LOY KRATONG Buddhist Loy Kratong is celebrated in most villages and town temples in Thailand and often coincides with the local temple’s Kathina Day ob-servance of Anapanasati at the end of the rainy season on the Last day of Rains Re-treat. Small lotus shaped elaborately decorated biodegradable baskets, Kratongs, are made and floated on rivers, canals, ponds and the sea. Symbolically floating away all anger, grudges and ill fortune and giving thanks for the rice harvest.
12 November
SHICHI-GO-SAN (Seven-Five-Three) Japanese Girls of 7, boys of 5 and girls of 3 are taken to a Shinto shrine to pray for their future well-being.
19 November
BIRTHDAY OF GURU NANAK (1469 CE) Sikh Guru Nanak is the first Sikh Guru and the founder of the Sikh tradition. Although born in April, his birthday (gurpurb) is generally celebrated on the full moon of the lunar month of Kartik. An akhand path (a complete, unbroken reading of the Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sa-hib) begins two days earlier so that it ends on the morning of the festival.
Westminster Interfaith
Westminster Interfaith Newsletter is published five times a year. If you would like a paper copy, we ask for £15.00 per year (£25.00 abroad) to cover printing and postage. Donations to support both the printed and e-versions always gratefully received. Send cheque payable to ‘Westminster Interfaith’ at address below or transfer directly to the bank with reference to ‘Interfaith Jon Dal Din’ so it goes to correct account: HSBC,WRCDT General Account No. 30853801; Sort Code: 40-05-20. Let me know when you have sent it. Many thanks. Jon
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Email: [email protected];
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WORK AND PLAY
The Master once referred to the Hindu notion that all creation is “leela”, God’s play; and the universe is His playground. The aim of spirituality, he claimed, is to make all life a play.
This seemed too frivolous for a puritanical visitor. “Is there no room then for work?”
“Of course, there is. But work becomes spiritual only when it is transformed into play.”
From:
‘One Minute Nonsense’
by Anthony de Mello SJ.
By kind permission of the publishers, Gujerat Sahitya Prakash Anand,
India.
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Novem-ber
MARTYRDOM OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR (1675) Sikh Born in 1621, he was the youngest son of Guru Hargobind and became the 9th Sikh guru. He was beheaded for upholding the refusal of a number of Hin-du Brahmins to convert to Islam.
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Novem-ber
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT Christian (Western Churches) Advent means ‘coming’. It marks the start of the Christian liturgical year, when the writings of a different evangelist are read. This year will be the year of Luke. Advent is a time to reflect on the incarnation and birth anniversary of Jesus, traditionally celebrated four weeks later on 25 December. Some churches cele-brate the day by lighting the first candle on the advent wreath. A further 3 candles are lit on subsequent Sun-days, culminating with the Christmas candle on 25 De-cember. Some Christians fast during Advent in prepa-ration for the birth of Jesus. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days, starting on 15 November. It is called the Nativity Fast, when no meat or dairy food are allowed.
30 November
ST ANDREW’S DAY National brother of St Peter, Andrew was the first disciple to follow Jesus. He was crucified in Greece. Patron saint of Scotland.
