Pesach in Pandemic: Shules, Synagogues along with Religious Organisations in Australia are reminding the community that they must not allow visitors into their homes for seders this Pesach, noting “these measures are about saving lives”.
Australia – Roundup for Pesach/Easter/Multifaith
On this page, we seek to give account of how different faith communities in Australia – in many states – are providing devotional and spiritual activities for their adherents in this time of Coronavirus – when places of worship in Australia have been closed by the government. There is much information here, more is welcome. Use our contact page if you do not find your community listed, and you wish to have your community’s offerings listed here.
Update: Youtube link to Mother Meera added.
Multi-faith community prayer & reflection
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change is hosting a Multifaith community prayer and reflection in these times of COVID-19. A number of resources are offered including spiritual support over Zoom. Greenfaith also offer Community Care and Resilience, albeit from the USA.
The Corona pandemic as a challenge for spiritual care
Religions for Peace Australia has two related websites, Multifaith Education Australia and Multifaith Chaplaincy Australia. The following article appeared on our Multifaith Chaplaincy website as Advice for Pastors (Chaplains) and is excellent reading as it gives a Chaplaincy in the European Union point of view – where the maximum death counts are taking place in the world at the time of publication. We offer it for your reflection and engagement.
Spiritual Care is an essential part of the care of critically ill and dying patients and their family members. This also applies in the current corona pandemic, in which all those involved are challenged to an unprecedented extent. Chaplains in hospitals, geriatric care facilities and in outpatient palliative care bear responsibility for the maintenance of spiritual care, with and for all those involved. They represent the shared caretaking effort of all health professions and are usually the first point of contact for spiritual care.
Mecca under 24-hour curfew to contain coronavirus
Saudi Arabia has imposed a 24-hour curfew over Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, as it fights to contain a Covid-19 outbreak. Saudi Arabia is telling Muslims worldwide to suspend Hajj plans amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Buddhists and Christians : Constructing a Culture of Compassion and Fraternity
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (the Vatican’s Interfaith Council) has written a message on occasion of Vesakh/Hanamatsuri for the Year 2020. The Message is titled, Buddhists and Christians : Constructing a Culture of Compassion and Fraternity
Parashat Tzav: Taking Care of Ourselves and Each Other Amid Crisis
In Parashat Tzav, we read, in minute detail, of the priests’ tasks to keep the flame on the altar burning day and night. That fire was central to the spiritual life of the community. Through their burnt offerings the Israelites drew near to God at times of transition or vulnerability. To do so, they depended on the priests to keep the altar clean and the fire burning.
WCC releases “Health and Hope” online publication as a resource amid COVID-19 pandemic
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has newly released an online publication, “Health and Hope: The Church in Mission and Unity,” a collection of previously published articles that resonate with the worldwide struggle amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The publication, available online free of charge for the next three months, serves to remind us of the presence of God during challenging times throughout history, and of how we can draw upon that history and tradition for the present time.
Australia – Roundup 4 April 2020
On this page, we seek to give account of how different faith communities in Australia – in many states – are providing devotional and spiritual activities for their adherents in this time of Coronavirus – when places of worship in Australia have been closed by the government. There is much information here, more is welcome. Use our contact page if you do not find your community listed, and you wish to have your community’s offerings listed here.
Update: There are a number of new links added for Christian worship in languages other than English.
A Message from Ammachi on Covid-19
On 23 March at Amritapuri Ashram, Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) gave one message about Coronavirus: “Pray sincerely and practice due diligence & caution against Coronavirus!” Amma’s message is as follows:
How coronavirus challenges Muslims’ faith and changes their lives
Fortunately for Muslims, the closure of mosques does not mean they stop daily prayers altogether. In Islam, individual prayers and worship play a greater role than communal ones. Muslims can pray five times a day wherever they are, and often home is a place where most praying takes place.
Interfaith Moment of Hope and Solidarity
Leaders from diverse religious traditions guided global believers in this spiritual moment of shared humanity – calling for health, compassion and strength in the time of COVID-19.
