Marche interreligieuse pour la Paix : 25ème anniversaire de la rencontre à Assise
•11.01.2012 • Leave a Comment
A Lyon, le treize novembre 2011, une grande marche a été organisée par quelques membres du Comité Interreligieux de la Famille Franciscaine ( les autres étant sur Paris pour la même manifestation qui s’étalait sur trois jours :11-12-13 /11). Un groupe s’est constitué , composé d’une belle diversité de personnes et de groupes religieux !
La marche a débuté, montée des carmélites, à l’amphithéatre des trois gaules, là même où le Pape Jean-Paul II avait annoncé, en octobre 1986, l’invitation faite à toutes les religions, de se retrouver à Assise pour une « journée de prière œcuménique et interreligieuse en faveur de la paix ».
Un grand nombre de personnes , au moins 700, ont répondu à l’appel en cette belle journée du 13 novembre à Lyon. Frère soleil était au rendez-vous ! Foule immense, fraternelle et simple
Au point de départ la parole était donnée aux chrétiens, en ce lieu combien symbolique ! Catholiques, Orthodoxes et Protestants se sont exprimés, un groupe de jeunes « foccolaris » a chanté leur chant de paix, puis la marche a démarré.
Le service d’ordre assuré par des bénévoles, n’a pas manqué de questionner et d’étonner les quelques policiers qui se tenaient aux lieux stratégiques de la route. A chaque étape deux colombes étaient lâchées comme symboles de paix.
La deuxième étape, place des Terreaux a fait place à la communauté musulmane. C’est le président du Conseil Régional pour le Culte Musulman qui a fait une belle intervention, suivie d’une prière musulmane. Là, pour la petite histoire, une des deux colombes est repartie, perchée sur le bus , bonne occasion de faire sourire tout le monde.
Troisième étape au bord du Rhône où une sorte d’amphithéatre permettait aux gens de s’assoir un peu.
La parole était données aux frères bouddhistes ; c’est une jeune femme Vietnamienne qui a exprimé joliment quelques aspects du bouddhisme, et un petit groupe hindou a chanté .
Puis, sur la place Bellecour, près de la statue du « petit prince » ce sont nos frères Juifs, en la personne du grand Rabbin de Lyon, qui avaient la parole : un beau plaidoyer pour la paix « le Chalom »qui mène à la plénitude. Les dernières colombes se sont envolées, portant au Seigneur nos désirs de Paix.
Enfin, notre marche prend fin, place St Jean, dans la cour de l’école des lazaristes, pour un temps spirituel.
C’est le moment de recueillir en nous, tous les fruits de fraternité et de paix de cette journée.
Chaque participant reçoit un cierge et une carte souvenir sur laquelle est écrite la « Règle d’or universelle »
de chacune des religions : « Ce que vous voulez que les autres fassent pour vous, faites-le vous-mêmes pour eux. » ainsi que la prière dite de St. François pour la paix.
La parabole des quatre bougies est lue et gestuée , puis les responsables religieux prennent les quatre grosses bougies pour distribuer la lumière aux centaines de personnes debout dans la cour. Nous sommes tous invités à élever nos petites flammes quelques minutes en silence. Moment intense de communion !
Puis nous lisons tous ensemble la prière dite de St. François .
Pour terminer, un Message de paix, fait par le Comité Franciscain, est proclamé solennellement par tous les responsables religieux présents.
Le groupe des musiciens et chanteurs terminent la soirée.
Un verre d’amitié, ainsi que des gâteaux ont permis des échanges tout simples. La joie et la satisfaction étaient sur tous les visages, les mercis aussi, et c’est sur que ce soir-là la paix a gagné un peu de terrain, quelques barrières sont tombées et des désirs sont nés… d’aller plus loin, dans la connaissance et le dialogue entre tous les croyants.
Peace in NEW ZEALAND
•11.01.2012 • Leave a Comment
Bernie Thomas OFM assisted in the planning of the Spirit of Assisi service in Auckland Cathedral. Hosted by Bishop Pat Dunn, there were ten denominations represented and approximately 150 people in the congregation. The “Decalogue of Peace” was used as the main focus for the evening. Each religious denomination which included a Buddhist monk, a Muslim Iman, and a member of parliament, was invited to read one of the statements from the Decalogue and then to respond to it with their own style of prayer or reflection.
A member of the congregation was invited to give to each religious representative a native seedling which they were invited to plant somewhere as a symbol of our desire for peace and unity. The evening finished with supper.
Spirit of Assisi – Singapore
•11.01.2012 • Leave a Comment
On Oct 27th2011, the Custody of St. Anthony of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi at the Home of the Franciscan Friars in the Piazza where it was attended by 300 or more people. The event was graced by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Singapore Dr. Tony Tan & Mrs. Mary Tan, His Excellency Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, His Grace Archbishop Nicholas Chia of the Archdiocese of Singapore and the Respected Religious Leaders of the IRO (Inter-Religious Organisation).
The gathering began at 7pm where people were invited to a Halal Vegetarian Dinner and this gave the people time and opputunity to mingle with one another till the programme proper began at 8pm. The Custos of the Custody of St. Anthony gave an opening address. The Apostolic Nuncio then in his address spoke about the significance of the celebration. The Friars had invited 10 inter-religious leaders to join in the occasion and each took turns to pray in their respective faiths for Peace. A video pre-recorded by Friar Matthew Beckmann of the Province of the Holy Spirit, gave an account of how the Spirit of Assisi began, its history and the intention of the Blessed Pope John Paul II when he gathered the Heads and Representatives of the Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities and of the World’s Religions to gather in Assisi for the World Day of Peace. The friars were privileged to have St. Joseph’s Institution Choir called the SJI Vocal Ensemble who sang three songs of peace and hope. A drama company “Walk on Water Productions” also inspired the people with the dramatised reading of Douglas Wood’s “Old Turtle and the Broken Truth”
Below are excerpts’ of Friar Michael D’Cruz and Mr Jaafar Ma, a representative of the Muslims from the Ba’alwie Mosque:
Friar Michael D’Cruz shared during the evening that the event was a reminder of the “need for a deep mutual respect for one another, the need for dialogue and the need to uphold the dignity of human life that God has given.”
Mr Jaafar Ma, a representative of the Muslims from Ba’alwie Mosque, said the gathering was an opportunity for the different religions to demonstrate racial and religious harmony.
After the Respected Religious Leaders had taken their respective turns to pray in their own faith traditions, they joined in the lighting of candles in the Garden of Peace, where when all the candles were placed together, it read the word ‘Peace’ in four languages of English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
The event was concluded with a simple gesture of a sign of Peace with one another.
Spirit of Assisi in Padua College, Brisbane, Australia
•11.01.2012 • Leave a Comment
Padua College BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
On 27 October Padua College played host to two very special guests as its way of honouring ‘Spirit of Assisi’ Day. Firstly, a group of Year 11 boys from the Islamic College of Brisbane enjoyed a visit to Padua. The visit began with an interfaith prayer gathering in Little Flower Church where one of the Islamic students read from the Koran in Arabic. John Boyd-Boland OFM gave a short explanation of the significance of the church as a sacred space to Catholic Christians. Matt Hufer OFM spoke about the history and tradition of the Franciscans. The students were guests at a special college assembly where one of them made the call to prayer before the assembly prayer was prayed. They left shortly after the assembly. Their visit was so successful that it will become a regular one each year.
Our second guest for the day was Ms Kathy Kelly, peace activist and three times Nobel Peace nominee. Kathy’s visit was sponsored by Pace e Bene Australia. Kathy spoke to at assembly about non-violent peaceful ways of demonstrating. 
The legacy of Pope John Paul’s historic gathering in Assisi twenty-five years ago was not lost on Padua College in 2011. The visit by the students from the Islamic College and Kathy Kelly brought home to us all the importance that working and praying has on and for our world today. Mr Michael O’Brien
Spirit of Assisi in Chicago
•17.12.2011 • Leave a Comment
The observance of the 25th anniversary of the Spirit of Assisi Day of Prayer for Peace extended over four days at Saint Peter’s Church and Friary in the Chicago Loop.
October 25 Tuesday - The Power of Forgiveness, a film (part one) was shown at 12:15 p.m. in the Saint Clare Auditorium of Saint Peter’s Church.
October 26 Wednesday - The Power of Forgiveness, (part two) was shown at 12:15 p.m.in the Saint Clare Auditorium of Saint Peter’s Church. Friars from the Community joined approximately thirty lay people employed in the businesses for this two part formation and education program. A fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, which meets regularly at Saint Peter’s, used this as part of its fraternal reflection program during its meeting.
October 27 Thursday
- The friary community used the special prayer service for Morning Prayer on this the actual anniversary date.- At the seven Masses celebrated in Saint Peter’s Church on that day the Mass for Peace and Reconciliation or the Mass for the Progress of Peoples was offered.- At 12:15 p.m. Friar Albert Merz, of the Province Peace Center, offered a lecture and reflection on The Seeds of Violence. Friars and approximately thirty others participated in the Saint Clare Auditorium.
October 28 Friday – At 12:15 p.m. Friar Albert Merz continued the meditation begun yesterday by a presentation entitled The Seeds of Peace to a similar group as yesterday.
In this way several hundred people from various parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago as well as residents in the city and its suburbs became aware of the Spirit of Assisi.
Assisi In Melbourne: Faith in Service for Peace
•17.12.2011 • Leave a Comment
Report by David Schütz, Executive Officer, Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission
27th October 2011
27th October 2011
On 1 January 2011, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he wished to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic meeting that took place in Assisi on 27 October 1986, at the wish of Blessed Pope John Paul II. On the day of the anniversary, 27 October this year, the Holy Father held a Day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world, making a pilgrimage to the home of Saint Francis and inviting fellow Christians from different denominations, representatives of the world’s religious traditions and, in some sense, all men and women of good will, to join him once again on this journey.
In conjunction with the Holy Father’s Assisi meeting, gatherings also took place in major cities around the world. Here, the Faith Communities Council of Victoria cooperated with the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne to organise a gathering called “Assisi in Melbourne: Faith in Service of Peace.” The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne kindly made available their historic “Chapter House” at St Paul’s Cathedral for the event.
On Sunday 23rd October, sixty members of Melbourne’s religious communities gathered for a one hour ceremony to commit to the service of peace in our city and our world. As we gathered, Cathy Connelly played for us on her celtic harp to appropriately set the tone of peacefulness. We were welcomed by Murray Davies, the chair of the FCCV and by the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, Bishop Mark Burton. This was followed by a series of readings and meditations from the twelve religious traditions represented: Baha’i (Susanne Haake), Brahma Kumaris (Christine Westbury), Buddhist (Venerable Horowpathane Sathindriya), Christian (Bishop Mark Burton), Hindu (Pandit Abhay Awasthi), Jewish (Rabbi Shamir Caplan), Muslim (Sheikh Abdinur Weli), Sikh (Ranjit Kaur), and Zoroastrian (Ervad Armin Dumasia). Between each reading, Glenn Sharp played quietly on the sitar.
Rabbi Caplan used a verse from the Jewish evening prayers related to the Jewish festival of Sukkoth (the “Feast of Tabernacles” or “Booths”): “May You spread over us a sukkah (tabernacle) of Your peace.” He explained that the value of peace is so great that we pray for it even if it will be like a sukkah, the flimsly and temporary outdoor structures in which Jews live for the eight days of this festival. It requires effort and work to keep it standing and proof against the weather.
Many of the readings were read in the original languages of the sacred writings, such as the Koran and the Veda. Bishop Burton surprised us all by reading, beautifully and fluently, the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel in the original Greek!
Professor Desmond Cahill OMA, chair of Religions for Peace Australia and a member of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission, was the guest speaker for the occasion. He told how he was first introduced to ecumenism (at later by extension into interfaith relations) by a visit to Assisi as a young man. He high-lighted the encounter between St Francis and the Muslim Sultan during the Fourth Crusade – a strange and seemingly naïve attempt at an interfaith encounter in the midst of violence and war.[Click here to download a copy of Professor Cahill's speech]
Melbourne Opera soprano, Rebecca Long, then sang for us the “Peace Prayer of St Francis” (“Make me a channel of your peace”) to the accompaniment of the harp. While not by St Francis, this song embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi’s simplicity and poverty and was first published by Pope Benedict XV in L’Osservatore Romano to encourage peace efforts during the First World War.
The assembly then voiced together their “Commitment to Peace”, which included rejection of violence and terrorism in the name of religion, mutual respect and esteem between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions, fostering the culture of dialogue, forgiveness for past and present errors and prejudices, taking the side of the poor and the helpless, and urging leaders of nations to make every effort to create and consolidate a world of solidarity and peace based on justice.
Following the ceremony, the Hindu Society of Victoria provided a generous afternoon tea (of curry puffs and cream cakes!) which allowed those who had gathered to spend a precious and joyful hour in conversation with one another.
Ironically, as this was taking place in the Chapter House in Flinders Lane, outside there was tension and some violence in relation to the “Occupy Melbourne” protest. By numerical comparison, our gathering was small, and yet I believe that in “Assisi in Melbourne” there was a true sign for the hope of a future of well-being and peace in our society.
Spirit of Assisi Supper in the USA
•8.12.2011 • Leave a Comment
Our parish, Saint Francis of Assisi, in Triangle, Virginia marked the Assisi Day of Peace with a simple supper of soup, bread, fruit and cookies. This meal was followed by a DVD presentation and discussion. The DVD included the story of a National Geographic photographer, DeWitt Jones. He spoke of how belief affects what we see. In sharing how he is able to recognize the grandeur and wonder of creation, setting up magnificent photo studies by waiting and watching, he inspired our depth of vision regarding the damage we do to this wondrous world.
In our discussion, participants shared their own opportunities to see the greatness of God in the gifts of the earth. We brainstormed about what we need to do and what we can do and what me must desist from doing in the future. We spoke about how politics controls and the economy limit the possibilities for substantial change.
The DVD is available thru a company called Starstruck. Their address is Starstruck.com
In our discussion, participants shared their own opportunities to see the greatness of God in the gifts of the earth. We brainstormed about what we need to do and what we can do and what me must desist from doing in the future. We spoke about how politics controls and the economy limit the possibilities for substantial change.
The DVD is available thru a company called Starstruck. Their address is Starstruck.com
By Fr. John Heffernan
CELEBRATIONS DU 25e ANNIVERSAIRE EN FRANCE
•3.12.2011 • 1 Comment
COLLOQUE INTERNATIONAL ET GRANDE MARCHE INTERRELIGIEUSE POUR LE 25eme ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA RENCONTRE D’ASSISE À PARIS
300 personnes ont participé au Colloque international organisé à Paris le 11 novembre 2011 pour célébrer le 25eme anniversaire de la Rencontre interreligieuse d’Assise. Le thème était « L’Esprit d’Assise aujourd’hui : expériences, difficultés et perspectives ». Il a été rappelé l’histoire et les enjeux avec, notamment, le témoignage de John Taylor (ancien secrétaire général de Religions pour la Paix) qui a participé au Rassemblement du 27 octobre 1986. Il a fait passer parmi les participants la médaille en bronze commémorative de l’événement. Des membres des différentes confessions religieuses sont également intervenus, soulignant l’impact prophétique et son héritage. Après le repas préparé par les Sikhs, l’après-midi était consacré à deux tables rondes : la première, portant sur l’éducation à la paix, rassemblait des représentants de mouvements (comme Sant’Egidio) et des confessions (sikhs, juifs, musulmans –soufi-, bouddhiste, confessions chrétiennes catholique, protestante, orthodoxe) ; la deuxième concernait les difficultés, les espérances, rassemblant des membres des confessions citées. Jean-Claude Petit, ancien directeur et rédacteur en chef de La Vie, actuellement Président du Réseau Chrétien de la Méditerranée, évoquait le « cancer intégriste »comme grave menace sur le dialogue interreligieux ; intégristes présents dans chaque traditions religieuses qui sont de plus en plus actifs et agressifs. Jean-Claude Petit n’hésitait pas à affirmer que les médias ont une part importante dans la montée de la violence. Ce « cancer intégriste » est favorisé par la crise économique et sociale, exacerbant les réflexes identitaires et les violences. Plusieurs intervenants, dont Mgr Michel Santier, évêque de Créteil, qui a terminé son mandat de responsable du dialogue interreligieux au sein de la Conférence des évêques (il est remplacé par Mgr Michel Dubost, évêque d’Evry), ont affirmé qu’il ne sert à rien de polémiquer avec les intégristes, enfermés dans leurs certitudes, mais qu’il faut expliquer dans le calme le sens et l’importance d’une telle démarche.
Un partage entre jeunes de toutes traditions religieuses s’est déroulé le 12 novembre avec rencontre de sages, buffet, concert et danses du monde.
Le 13 novembre avait lieu la grande marche interreligieuse, rassemblant 500 personnes, ponctuée par des étapes dans différentes communautés (sikhe, catholique, protestante, chaldéenne, hindouiste). L’arrivée avait lieu à Saint-Denis de la chapelle où a été lu un message des participants adressé « aux femmes et aux hommes de bonne volonté ». C’est devant 500 personnes qu’a ensuite eu lieu un temps d’expression de prière de chaque communauté, troublé au départ par 12 jeunes intégristes. C’était une belle illustration de ce qu’évoquait Jean-Claude Petit (cf. ci-dessus). Un concert du monde pour la paix terminait magnifiquement les festivités.
DES MARCHES INTERRELIGIEUSES À EVRY, LYON ET CANNES
Près de 1000 personnes ont participé, le 22 octobre 2011, à une marche interreligieuse à Evry. Les participants ont commencé par la pagode bouddhiste, puis ont été accueillis à la synagogue, la cathédrale, et la mosquée (où le thé leur a été offert).
Plusieurs centaines de personnes ont également participé, en lien avec la Famille Franciscaine, à une marche interreligieuse pour la Paix à Lyon. A chaque halte, le représentant d’une des confessions participantes a lu un texte ou une prière. Tous se sont retrouvés devant la cathédrale Saint-Jean en fin d’après-midi.
A Cannes, 700 personnes ont participé à une marche interreligieuse le 14 novembre organisée par deux mouvements chrétiens. Des membres de la Famille Franciscaine y ont participé.
COLLOQUE À L’INSTITUT CATHOLIQUE DE PARIS POUR CÉLÉBRER LE 25eme ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA RENCONTRE D’ASSISE
Le 22 et 23 septembre 2011 s’est déroulé à l’Institut Catholique de Paris un colloque intitulé« Dialogue et conversion : mission impossible ? » (comprises dans les journées doctorales de rentrée des étudiants de 2e et 3e Cycles du Theologicum), sous la présidence de Mgr Félix Machado, ancien secrétaire du Conseil Pontifical pour le Dialogue interreligieux, et la présence de Mgr Michel Santier, évêque de Créteil, Président du Conseil pour les Relations Interreligieuses de la Conférence des évêques de France. La quinzaine d’intervenants ont permis une approche sous divers angles de l’annonce et du dialogue. Les différentes traditions religieuses étaient représentées : bouddhisme tibétain, islam sunnite, judaïsme.
Fr. Jean-Louis PAUMIER (Paris)
Coordination interprovinciale Justice et Paix
The Spirit of Assisi in Canada
•2.12.2011 • Leave a Comment
Report from OFS, Vancouver, BC, Canada. We were reminded that in celebrating the Spirit of Assisi: “We want to remember our call to be signs of unity and right relationships among ourselves and with all of creation, including those who do not share our faith or who profess no faith at all.”
That implies an ecumenical gathering. The St Francis Fraternity, OFS (Vancouver, BC, Canada) failed to do that. The fraternity must try again in the future, hopefully with First Nation, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Russian Orthodox participants. However the fraternity did consider “right relationships among ourselves and with all of creation.” In a presentation entitled: “Cry of the earth, cry of the poor” it saw the links between sustainable stewardship (care of creation) and the struggle for justice for the poor.
At an Area Chapter of Mats held in Surrey, BC (8 October 2011) for seven local fraternities attended by about 30 OFS brothers and sisters, we celebrated the meeting of Francis and the Sultan with a skit and prayer and discussion.
The theme for the next Chapter of Mats for the OFS National Fraternity of Canada (May 2012) is: “Bearers of Peace and Love: Be not afraid.” The Spirit of Assisi will be celebrated with a Pilgrimage, presentations on “Peace,” “Francis and the Sultan” and “Cry of the Earth, cry of the Poor.” At the Chapter, resolutions will be presented concerning the adoption of a National JPIC Plan and adoption of an ethical purchasing (fair trade) policy.
Spirit of Assisi Concert Sydney
•2.12.2011 • 1 Comment
A unique event of fine music and interfaith prayer was held at Pitt Street Uniting Church on Saturday 29 October.
Our special guests included Rev Dr Stephanie Dowrick (MC), Jane Rutter (Flute Queen), Dr Kim Cunio and Heather Lee (leaders in sacred music), Christopher Perrin (trumpet), Jassen Rose (organ) and Lanneke Wallace-Wells (music director).
The combined choir performed pieces such asSong for Athene, The Lord is My Shepherd, Sanctus and A Clare Benediction. An audience of approximately 300 people was treated to a special performance ofBlackbird(Lennon/McCartney) by Jane Rutter and her son Bertie. St Clare’s College Waverley and Di Canto also performed special pieces that highlighted the significance of St Francis today and our relationship with those in need, particularly refugees and asylum seekers.
Prayers for peace were led by leaders from the Sabian Madaean, Catholic, Uniting, Jewish, Buddhist and Baha’i traditions.
All proceeds from this concert were directed to The House of Welcome, a service for refugees and asylum seekers.
More about activities in Australia and Singapore can be seen here
O Espírito de Assis faz morada no Convento São Francisco em São Paulo
•2.12.2011 • Leave a Comment
O Ato Inter-religioso realizado neste 27 de outubro de 2011, no centenário Convento São Francisco, em São Paulo, mostrou com todas as letras que o encontro realizado em Assis, há 25 anos, deixou uma cultura de paz para a humanidade. Ver o presbitério da igreja do Convento tomado por treze lideranças das mais diferentes crenças, religiões e fé foi emocionante. Ao som do trompete do músico José Eduardo Pimentel, o Duda, teve início a procissão das lideranças presentes neste ato. Com a saudação franciscana de “Paz e Bem”, o guardião do Convento, Frei Salésio Hillesheim, que representou o Ministro Provincial Frei Fidêncio Vanboemmel, acolheu a todos, lembrando que o momento era muito mais do que histórico. “É um momento humano. A paz e a justiça não são questões meramente religiosas, mas são da nossa sobrevivência neste nosso mundo e nosso planeta”, disse Frei Salésio. Enquanto em Assis, o Papa Bento XVI renovava o compromisso pela paz, reunindo líderes mundiais, o Definidor da Província da Imaculada Conceição, Frei Mário Tagliari, dava início à celebração no Convento São Francisco, apresentando cada representante das religiões presentes no altar: Márcio Henrique de Souza Ramos, representante Curimba Filhos de Umbanda, uma associação dentro da Umbanda; Afonso Moreira Junior, representando a Federação Espírita do Estado de São Paulo; Reverendo Kazuya Nagashima, budista Risho Kossei-Kai do Brasil; Gustavo Pinto, budista da Terra Pura; Monja Coen Sensei é missionária oficial da tradição Soto Shu – Zen Budismo; Shaikh Ahmad Mazloum, da Liga da Juventude Islâmica no Brasil; Sheikh Mohamad Al Bukai, da Liga da Juventude Islâmica do Brasil; Rabino Ruben Sternschein, Congregação Israelita Paulista; Pastor Matthias Tolsdorf, da Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil; Reverendo Herbert Rodrigues de Souza, pastor da Igreja Presbiteriana Independente do Brasil; João Kaimbé, representante do povo Kaimbé de São Paulo; Reverendo Leandro Antunes Campos, da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil; e Dom Edmar Peron, bispo auxiliar da Arquidiocese de São Paulo e vigário episcopal da Região de Belém. Em seguida, tiveram início os pronunciamentos, sempre intercalados com as belíssimas apresentações musicais das crianças que formam o Grupo Flautista da Liberdade, do Centro Comunitário de Acolhimento da Liberdade, dirigido pela Irmã Miriam Simon, franciscana de Ingolstadt.Celebration of the Spirit of Assisi in Pakistan
•12.11.2011 • Leave a Comment
Representatives of different Religions met for prayer in Lahore, Pakistan
Lahore (Report Khurram Shahzad): National Council for Interfaith Dialogue under the leadership of Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap held an Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace on 27th Oct. 2011 at Peace Hall, St Joseph Church, Lahore Cantt.
This was in continuation of the commitment of the blessed Pope John Paul II he initiated in Assisi, Rome 25 years ago.
Beside 20 Christian priests, 20 Islamic Ulema, Hindu and Sikh priests, more than 200 people attended the prayer service.
The religious leaders read out scriptures from their respective holy books and offered collective prayers.
Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap in his opening remarks said today we have gathered here to commemorate and celebrate 25th Anniversary of the world day of prayer for peace held in Assisi on Oct, 27th, 1986 by Pope John Paul II. He said building on this celebration Pope John Paul II, who made popular the idea of the spirit in Assisi, a concept which has inspired many efforts to promote peace and dialogue over the last quarter century.
He invited all the religious leaders of different religions to reinforce their commitment to peace and dialogue and celebrate this important Anniversary in the Spirit of Assisi.
Fr. Henry Paul OFM Cap. in his speech shed light on the background of the day and added that world was in the grip of war and bloodshed when the blessed Pope selected the city of Assisi, the native town of St. Francis, to hold a collective peace prayer by all the religious leaders of the world in order to promote interfaith harmony and peace. Today if we really want to have peace and harmony in the world we would have to adopt measures like mercy, tolerance and acceptance.
Mufti Mohd. Sohail Raza Qadri said though we belong to different religions but we are one as a nation. He narrated the event of Fateh Makkah where the holy Prophet (PBUH) gave liberty to all to practice their religion. He also allowed Christians to offer their prayers in Masjid-e- Nabvi which is a greatest example of gesture of peace.
Rev. Fr. James Channan OP, Asian Coordinator of United Religious Initiatives, expressing his pleasure termed the programme as an event of religious freedom and peace and said today the Peace Hall is presenting the look of cradle of peace.
He said in the city of Assisi around three hundred individuals of different religions from 50 countries are present who say that they are working for the peace. He termed Truth, Justice, Love & Freedom, as four pillars of Peace.
Maulana Akbar Saqi in his speech admitted that it was S.P Singha`s (Christian legislator) vote which played a crucial rule for an independent state.
A Hindu leader from UK, Baba Ji Ghi said we used to collectively celebrate Christmas, Eid and Dewali. These celebrations bring us closer to one anther. He appreciated the idea of praying together.
Allama Pir Qazi read out the message of Tahirul Qadri who has number of peace services to his credit.
The Sikh leader in his speech said in order to maintain peace we would have to love and respect our neighbors.
Fr. Qaiser Feroz OFM Cap. said the biggest enemy of social peace is human selfishness. With love and generosity we can maintain peace and all the religions teach the same
Pir Shafaat Rasul said all of us are natives of one land. He added no religion teachers hatred but it is our self interests which create problems. He termed all the religious a truth which cannot be denied and said combine religions is like a bouquet of flowers made by God. He termed St. Francis of Assisi as ambassador of peace and appreciated the peace efforts of the blessed Pope calling him the saint of peace.
Fr. Clarence Hayat said the very first prayer St. Francis offered after his conversion was for peace. Humbleness makes us the ambassador of peace and added God teaches us not only to love human beings but the entire universe.
The Capuchin Brothers repeated all those prayers which were recited in Assisi in 1986 followed by a collective peace prayer by all the religious leaders.
Rev.Fr. Abid Habib read out the peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. During this prayer the participants lit candles and sung the concluding song with the choir of St. Joseph Church.
Materials for the celebration of the Spirit of Assisi
•10.10.2011 • 1 Comment
For all you who want to celebrate the Spirit of Assisi wherever you are here you can find proposals for different kinds of celebrations. Feel free to use it and to modify it so that it suits your needs.
You can find the material in various languages under the following links: 
english
Some other material in Slovenian
•10.10.2011 • Leave a Comment
The Slovenian Franciscan Family celebrates the Spirit of Assisi for several years and have produced some own material, which can be downloaded here.
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