Greetings of peace!
World Interfaith Harmony Week aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith and non-faith. It provides a platform, one week in the year, where people of every group can recognize their common values, build ties with each other, and work alongside one another to bring peace and harmony to their communities.
The United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week is held every year, in the first week of Febuary: 1-7 February.
World Interfaith Harmony Week aims to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith and non-faith. It provides a platform, one week in the year, where people of every group can recognize their common values, build ties with each other, and work alongside one another to bring peace and harmony to their communities.
This is all the more important when we look round at our country and our world and see the attacks on places of worship and the harassment and persecution of faith communities that continue to cause such suffering.
In association with UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, there is also I 4give Week, and you can see a reflection by Bishop Philip Huggins at https://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/?p=16371
Religions for Peace Tasmania branch are participating in two events to honour the week:
- the observance of the Multireligious Prayer for Peace and Compassion initiated by Religions for Peace International (see 1 below) Family Violence
- online Event: Exploring Models of Educating Communities about Family Violence that may work in Tasmania (see 3 below)
Holy Days in February – March 2023
| Date | Event | Faith/religion |
| 15 February | Nirvana Day | Buddhism |
| 18 February | Lailat al Miraj | Islam |
| 18 February | Maha Shivarathri | Hinduism |
| 21 February | Losar Tibetan New Year |
Tibetan Buddhism |
| 21 February | Shrove Tuesday | Christianity |
| 22 February | Ash Wednesday | Christianity |
| 27 February | Great Lent | Orthodox |
| 6 March | Magha Puja Day | Buddhism |
| 7 March | Purim | Judaism |
| 8 March | Holi | Hinduism |
| 8-10 March | Hola Mohalla | Sikhism |
Multireligious Prayer for Peace and Compassion initiated by Religions for Peace International
Religions for Peace International
Multireligious Prayer for Peace and Compassion
7 February 8.30-930am EST (8 February 12.30am AEDT)
Virtual attendance; Baha’i International Community’s UN Office
Organised by Religions for Peace International and the Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN
This year, with violence raging in the Ukraine, Syria and Haiti, threats against women in Afghanistan, and forced migration in and out of Latin America, in addition to the escalating climate crisis, the need for prayer, peace and compassion is even more paramount to the safety, health, and wellbeing of all the world’s citizens.
Please join us on Tuesday, 7 February 2023, at 8:30 am EST (8 February 12.30am AEDT) to participate in the powerful prayers offered by diverse faith traditions and indigenous spiritualities from across the globe. Please Register Here to Join Virtually
Dances of Universal Peace
A reminder that Dancing is on this Tuesday 7th February with Nicola Amina.
It would be lovely if you can come and join in.
Start time is at 7.00pm so please arrive a little earlier to accommodate this.
At The Hawker Centre, 339 Macquarie Street, South Hobart (behind All Saints Church & Jesse Tree Op Shop).
Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell. Please feel free to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable doing so.
Family Violence online Event: Exploring Models of Educating Communities about Family Violence that may work in Tasmania
This event is to honour the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. Exploring Models of Educating Communities about Family Violence that may work in Tasmania will be held online by Zoom on Thursday 9 February 4.00-5.30pm. The link to register is below.
Following on from our previous workshops in 2022 in partnership with Tasmania Police, Dept of Home Affairs and Red Cross, we will continue in 2023 with a special online workshop looking at models of educating members of minority communities about Family Violence that may work in Tasmania.
We have invited three speakers to present the models they find helpful:
Deacon Oliver Slewa, Project Manager of the NSW Ecumenical Council’s Domestic Violence Project Safe Homes, Safe Families. Oliver, a Deacon of the Assyrian Church of the East, spoke at the Religions for Peace Australia national workshop on 25 November 2022 and here is a link to the video of his talk on that occasion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWWffozrvNs
Jasbir Singh Suropada, Director of Sikh Australian Support for Family Violence. Jasbir works in Melbourne and his organisation runs a number of programs to support both victims and perpetrators, including the Healthy Families, Healthy Relationships Program.
The Healthy Families Healthy Relationships (HFHR) Program is a family violence prevention program which has been co-designed with community using an intrafaith lens to cater to the religious and cultural needs of diverse communities. A flyer is attached.
Rev Simon Hansford, Moderator of NSW/ACT UCA and a member of NSW Ecumenical Council which helped to set up the NSW Interfaith Domestic and Family Violence Declaration, signed by 70 faith leaders and a number of key NSW state government Ministers: https://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/?p=15970
Shivratri: A talk in celebration of the festival
Shiv Ratri Talk in Hindi language
Sunday 19 February 2023 3.00-5.00pm
Multicultural Hub, 65 Hopkins Street, Moonah 7009
Bookings essential on tiny.cc/shivratritas
Enquiries: hobart@au.brahmakumaris.org or phone 6278 3788
Sacred Conversations
The topic for this month’s Sacred Conversations is When bad things happen: finding meaning in suffering
Saturday 25 February from 2pm to 4pm. The meeting will be held at the Bahai Centre of Learning at 1 Tasman Hwy, Hobart
It would be a pleasure to have you join us in person but if you’re not able to, and would like to join us via Zoom, here is the link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88482883301?pwd=U1F3a0U0L3ord1o2OGtrdW9XTzVTUT09
For more information, contact Julian on 0401673016
Soul Food
You are invited to join on Sunday March 5 2023 at 3pm at the Bahai Centre of Learning for Tasmania,
1 Tasman Hwy, Hobart TAS 7000, for another thought-provoking Soul Food. The Theme for this program will be ” Two Wings of a Bird“.
With readings and quotes from philosophers, poets, authors and faiths chosen to encourage enlightened actions.
All welcome – Ample free parking
Enquiries ttp://www.soulfood.com.au/tas/
RfPA National Sharing on Faith Communities and Family Violence
Religions for Peace Australia invites people of faith in Australia involved in working with or thinking of working with faith communities/ faith leaders on the prevention of family violence to our second informal Zoom gathering to be held in the week of International Women’s Day.
To honour UN International Women’s Day, Religions for Peace Australia invites people of faith involved in working with or thinking of working with faith communities/faith leaders on the prevention of Family Violence to our second informal Zoom gathering.
Date: Friday 10 March 2023
Time: 12noon-2.00pm AEST (SA 11.30am, Qld 11am, NT 10.30am)
Venue: By Zoom, enquire for link
Poppy Korras from Dept of Home Affairs and Assoc Prof Cathy Vaughan from Melbourne University will be presenting information on their work.
Date: Friday 10th of March 2023
Time: 12-2 pm AEST (SA 11.30, QLD 11 am NT 10.30)
Where: Zoom link to register
Aligning your Finances with your Faith to Protect the Planet
This event, which explores Superannuation, is part of the ARRCC Align Your Finances with Your Faith to Protect the Planet series in which participants share, learn and discuss within a multifaith group issues surrounding aligning your finances and faith to protect the planet by divesting from fossil fuels.
The session considers how to get your Superannuation fund to stop funding the fossil fuel industry.
There is much work we can do to ensure that our superannuation companies are divesting from fossil fuel industries, and investing into renewable sources on the path to a reducing emissions.
Please register prior to the workshop for the free 90 minute online session that you wish to attend using the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/BTMLM.
Book your session on Superannuation on Thursday March 16th 2023 for either of these times
12 NOON – 1:30 PM AEST ACT/NSW/QLD/TAS/VIC (11:30AM SA/NT), (10AM WA).
or
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM AEST ACT/NSW/QLD/TAS/VIC, (7:00PM SA/NT), (5:30PM WA).
Items of Interest – Interfaith in Asia
Hate Speech and Religious Freedom online: https://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/?p=16292
Reflections on the Interfaith Legacy of Pope Benedict https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/the-interfaith-legacy-of-pope-benedict/
China courts influence in Sri Lanka via the Buddhist clergy
https://www.himalmag.com/china-sri-lanka-buddhist-clergy-rajapaksa-faxian-charity-project/
Cambodia celebrates 100 years of Christianity
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-touts-religious-freedom-praises-christian-contributions-cambodia
https://www.ucanews.com/news/cambodia-marks-a-century-of-christianity/100178
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501228357/religious-conflict-is-a-great-catastrophe-that-cannot-happen-in-cambodia-says-premier/ (this one speaks of interreligious dialogue … albeit tenuously)
Japanese Buddhist Conference Speaks Out on the Dalai Lama’s Succession
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/japanese-buddhist-conference-speaks-out-on-the-dalai-lamas-succession/
This conversion issue in India, in the rural north and backward castes:
https://www.opindia.com/2023/01/up-police-book-31-people-for-forced-conversion-in-just-1-month/
News Links
Assaults, verbal abuse, and harassment: ‘Alarming’ rise of antisemitism in Australia
‘This was hate speech’: Hindu community alarmed by temple attacks
Woman Pastor ordained in Middle East
‘We are all children of God:’ Pope Francis says homosexuality is not a crime in interview
‘They’ll pick the white guy’: Usman Khawaja on race and smashing cricket’s inner sanctum
Our public holidays should reflect Australia’s multicultural make-up
Pope Benedict XVI is laid to rest by Pope Francis in the Vatican
In peace,
Terry
Convenor Religions for Peace Tasmania Branch
Convenor, Faith Communities of Tasmania
Phone 6272 6521
