World Interfaith Harmony Week – a United Nations Observance – takes place in the first week of February, each year. A number of events will be offered by various Interfaith networks in Victoria.
On October 20, 2010, World Interfaith Harmony Week was unanimously adopted by the United Nations as the first week of February, set aside each year for interreligious observances, the study of sacred texts, prayer breakfasts, interfaith celebrations of poetry, music and art, meditation groups, and afternoons of community service. Australia has celebrated World Interfaith Harmony week since 2011.
Maribyrnong Interfaith Network
World Interfaith Harmony Week 2016 | Connecting to the Earth
- Date: Thursday 4 February 2016 Time: 10am – 12:00pm
- Location: Sunshine Hospital, 176 Furlong Road, St Albans
Join Maribyrnong Interfaith Network to celebrate the Connecting to Earth event as part of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2016 at Sunshine Hospital. This event will provide a platform for western region interfaith groups and people of goodwill to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
The event will include:
- Welcome to Country by Wurundjeri Traditional Elder
- Welcome and short introduction to the spiritual care at Western Health by Khanh Do
- Keynote address by Nivy Balachandran, Coordinator at United Religious Initiative and delegate at the 2016 Paris Climate Change Conference
- Guided Walk through the Labyrith with Rev Ray Gorman, Minister of Uniting Church in Sunshine
- Lunch catered by ASRC Catering and networking
- Guided tour of the Sunshine Hospital organised by Sunshine Hospital Volunteers Department
- Refreshments and light lunch will be provided. Free registration.
Darebin Interfaith Council
World Interfaith Harmony Week | Stories of Hope
- Date: Thursday 4 February 2016 Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
- Location: Darebin Intercultural Centre, 59A Roseberry Avenue, Preston.
Come together and recognise that our shared values far outweigh our differences. In the spirit of interfaith harmony, Darebin City Council, Darebin Interfaith Council and Darebin Ethnic Communities Council invite all to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week with us.
Young speakers from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh faiths will share inspirational Stories of Hope as to how they have been informed by their respective faiths to build interfaith harmony in the community.
Enjoy the company of friends, live music, and lunch together.
- Catering: Lunch will be provided
- Cost: Free event
- RSVP Essential for catering purposes on phone: (03) 8470 8440 or email: intercultural@darebin.vic.gov.au
Casey Multi-Faith Network
World Interfaith Harmony Day
- Date: Thursday 4 February 2016 Time: 1pm – 3pm
- Location: Casey Council Chambers, Level 2, Civic Centre, Magid Drive, Narre Warren
Keynote Speaker: Avraham Schwarz, Jewish Scholar
The Casey Multi-Faith Network is holding its first ever event during the World Interfaith Harmony Week. Everyone is invited to this special first meeting of the year.
About the speaker: Avraham (Abe) Schwarz has worked for many years in the Youth and Community Development sectors for both Jewish and mainstream organisations in Australia – and 4 intriguing years of Interfaith Dialogue and Tour-Guiding in Jerusalem, whilst studying Rabbinic and Torah Jewish sources – and raising a young family. Avraham is the proud father of Zachariah, Gabriel and Noah, and outside of family, devotes extensive time promoting Cultural Diversity, Jewish Education, Aboriginal Reconciliation and Interfaith Harmony – formally as Honorary Secretary of C.O.M.M.O.N. – the Centre Of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network. Additionally, Abe presents to schools through the Jewish Christian Muslim Association (JCMA), writes and broadcasts on related topics including for Gesher, the Journal of the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) and actively supports the legacy of Aboriginal activist Uncle William Cooper (1860-1941) – volunteering as Secretary to his 87-year-old grandson, Uncle Boydie. “Abe’s Tikun Olam Hour” weekly Social Justice radio show can be heard around the world on Sundays at 9pm on www.j-air.com.au – or on 87.8FM in Melbourne inner-S.E. suburbs, where many topics relevant to the Casey Multifaith Network are also regularly explored.
- Free event with Afternoon Tea. Please feel free to bring a friend.
- RSVP: Monday 1 February 2016 info@caseymultifaith.org.au
City of Greater Dandenong
Interfaith Breakfast 2016 celebrating the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Guest Speaker: Manpreet Kaur Singh speaking on “Identity, Faith & the Media”
- Date: Saturday, 6 February 2016 Time: 7.00 am – 9.00 am
- Location: The Springvale Town Hall Supper Room, Springvale
More about the Speaker: Manpreet is best known as a multi-award winning SBS broadcaster, her work across all platforms of journalism — newspapers, radio, magazines, television and online – have earned her widespread respect and recognition in Australia and beyond. She joined SBS Punjabi program in 1993 and has made a significant contribution in areas of social justice, cultural cohesion and multiculturalism. Manpreet’s acclaimed documentary feature “The Enemy Within”, investigating family violence in the Australian- Indian community, has won six national and international awards, and earned her a coveted Walkley nomination. Her articles in Hindustan Times, India Today and Sikhchic.com continue to build the identity of Sikh / Indian migrants of Australia. The receiver of many awards and recognition, Manpreet has won a Legal Reporting Award from Victorian Legal Foundation and was a judge for Young Walkleys in 2014. In 2013 she won the “Media Award” at Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence and was a finalist at Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism”.
Please do pass on to others who might be interested in your community.
- For catering purposes, RSVP to interfaithofficer@interfaithnetwork.org.au or 0421 829 563 – by 1 February 2016
- The Interfaith Network looks forward to seeing you at this special breakfast.
University of Melbourne – Religions for Peace (Victoria)
The University of Melbourne Chaplaincy and Religions for Peace Victoria invite you to a free lecture: Human Existence, Religions and the Digital World by Professor Peter Horsfield, Professor of Communication, RMIT University.
Peter Horsfield’s research over several decades has focused on the interaction of media and religion. Among other involvements, he was a member of the International Study Commission on Media Religion and Culture.
His early study Religious Television: The American Experience was influential in changing perceptions of the extent and influence of the televangelists.
His recent book From Jesus to the Internet examines Christianity as a mediated phenomenon. The first systematic survey o
f the interaction of media and religion in a religious tradition, it shows how Christianity’s historical development was shaped by the opportunities and contests of the various media forms used in its practice. His insights into some of Christianity’s currently hotly debated issues provide a much-needed historical basis for multi-disciplinary study.
Event Details
- Event:: World Interfaith Harmony Week Lecture
- Program: Lecture, Human Existence, Religions and the Digital World by Prof. Peter Horsfield
- Date: Tuesday 2nd February 2016
- Time: 5.30-7.30pm
- Location: Gryphon Gallery, Mezzanine Level, Building 1888, near the Cr of Swanston and Grattan St Melbourne (http://maps.unimelb.edu.au/parkville/building/198)
Download a Flyer for this event.
The Spirit of Things
Prof. Peter Horsfield was recently interviewed on ABC Radio “The Spirit of Things” by Rachael Kohn. The program was called The Medium is the Message. You can visit The Spirit of Things program website and download the podcast here.
World Interfaith Harmony Week ~ Love of the Good, Love of the Neighbour
World Interfaith Harmony Week In Australia:
World Interfaith Harmony Week has been celebrated in Australia since its inception. The first celebration took place at Government House in Melbourne on 5 February 2010, when the Governor of Victoria gave an address to the assembled religious leaders. Since then, the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne has conducted a celebration each year at Government House. In 2012, the event organisers invited over 100 religious, spiritual and community leaders to a morning reception in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne, Australia, to celebrate the second World Interfaith Harmony Week. We celebrate by gathering together, strengthening our ties, sharing news of our interfaith activities and our future plans, through meeting new friends and creating new partnerships. The Faith Communities Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne, Religions for Peace Australia and the Australian Multicultural Foundation are partners in this special event.
World Interfaith Harmony Week Website
In 2015, World Interfaith Harmony Week will be observed for the first time in Parliament House, Canberra, in a joint collaboration between Religions for Peace Australia and the Canberra Interfaith Forum.
World Interfaith Harmony Week ~ Love of the Good, Love of the Neighbour
