So much is happening on the Interfaith Calendar
as readers will see set out below.
Perhaps because this week is Harmony Week and Passover and Easter
are coming up ... so here is a list for you:
(Please pass on to your respective networks)
The MELA Interfaith Group in association with Janssen Spirituality Centre invite you to:
One Day Tantra Conference | Themes:
'Well-being of the woman, well-being of the cosmos.'
'Ageing, spirituality and sexuality – an oxymoron?'
Date: Saturday 16 April 2016 Time: 8:30am to 5pm
Location: Janssen Spirituality Centre, 22 Woodvale Road Boronia Vic, 3155
The aim of Tantra is to reach the freedom that arises from the union of opposites, light and darkness, male and female, beauty and horror, strength and weakness. This paradoxical path leads most effectively to the highest state.
Due to many requests after a very successful Tantra Conference last November 2015, we are conducting a couple of one-day conferences leading up to a full Conference on 3-4 December 2016.
Guest Speakers:
Merav Carmeli was born is Israel. She has a BA and MA in Bible and Jewish Studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She is now working on her Phd which focuses on the Zohar (the most important work of the classical Kabbalah from the 13th century) and specifically on the centrality of the Divine Feminine in this composition. She has taught Jewish Studies and Jewish Mysticism at the adult education program of Monash University through the ACJC, at universities in Israel and at other institutions. For the last 12 years she has analysed the available Zohar manuscripts (from the 14th-16th centuries) as part of the Pritzker Zohar Project (a critical translation into English of the Zohar, Stanford University Press). She is now an Adjunct Research Associate at Monash University. Merav has published a few academic articles and she is the co-editor of two volumes on the Zohar. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and three children.
Rev. Dr. John Dupuche is a Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He has a doctorate in Sanskrit, specialising in Kashmir Shaivism and is particularly interested in its interface with Christianity. He is Honorary Fellow in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University with special involvement in interfaith relations, and senior-lecturer and co-ordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Guiding Meditation at MCD University of Divinity. He is chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee of the Archdiocese, and member of the executive of the School of Prayer within the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation. He travels to India each year, and lives in an interfaith ashram. His book: Abhinavagupta: the Kula Ritual as elaborated in chapter 29 of the Tantraloka was published in 2003; Jesus, the Mantra of God, in 2005; and Vers un Tantra Chrétien in 2009 (translated as Towards a Christian Tantra). He has written many articles in these fields.
Cost: $45 Enrolments: by 31 March 2016
More information:
Program:
8.30am registration
09.00am presentation by Merav Carmeli:
'I will explore the idea that attending to the sexual and emotional wellbeing of the human woman and the Goddess is the key to personal and cosmic salvation. We will read texts from the Kabbalah of the Zohar and compare them to texts from Kashmir Shaivism and Hildegard from Bingen.'
10.00am morning tea.
10.30am workshop on material provided by Merav.
11.30am general discussion on outcome of workshop and further investigation of the topic.
12.15pm pause
12.30pm lunch (vegetarian)
1.30pm presentation by John Dupuche on:
Tantra in the third age of life: The paradoxical topic of ageing, spirituality and sexuality will be broached from a tantric perspective, drawing on themes from Christianity and Kashmir Shaivism.
2.30pm elaboration on the tantric dimension of the Mass.
3.15pm afternoon tea
3.45pm workshop on material supplied by John
4.30pm general discussion and resumé
5.00pm close
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The Kingston Interfaith Network invites you to:
Interfaith Art of Peace Dinner | Harmony Week 2016
Date: Wednesday 23 March 2016 Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Southern Community Church of Christ, 2/12 Chesterville Rd, Cheltenham
Guest Speaker William Kelly OAM, artist and peace activist will feature at this night of multicultural food and entertainment and lead a discussion on Art of Peace.
More about the speaker: William Kelly was born in New York City. William is a writer, painter, printmaker and peace activist. William is a recipient of the prestigious "Courage of Conscience Award" from the Peace Abby in America and the only visual artist to receive an Australian Violence Prevention Award from the Prime Minister and heads of Australian Government.
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Spiritual Care Australia invites you to a national conference on:
Inspiration in Diversity - The Shifting Sands of Spiritual Care
Date: Sunday 1 May to Wednesday 4 May 2016
Location: Bayview on the Park, 52 Queens Road, Melbourne
The Spiritual Care Australia Conference Committee looks forward to welcoming you to the SCA Conference 2016! Around the theme of “Inspiration in Diversity”, we are planning a conference that we hope will stretch all of us in our understanding of “the other” and deepen our understanding of “the self”. There will be stories from people of other faiths – people of other racial background – people whose life’s journey has taken them places different and similar to your own. With the sub-theme of “The shifting sands of spiritual care”, we will explore those things that are changing – and those things that stay the same. There will be workshops on practical subjects and seminars and papers sessions to stretch us. We will have ways for you to engage your heart and soul in ritual, and ways to engage with your colleagues over meals. Whatever your religious tradition, your field of chaplaincy, your age or your level of experience, we believe there will be something for you at Melbourne 2016.
For more information on the Conference program please see attached flyer
Cost: Early Bird Rate | Member $550 | Non Member $650 | Single Day $250 (Early Bird Rate closes 29 February)
Online registration, click
here.
(Please pass on to your respective networks)
Inclusion Designlab invites you to:
Faith Community Inclusion Forum
Encouraging greater participation of people with disability in their chosen faith
Date: Wednesday 23 March 2016 Time: 2pm to 4pm
Location: 67 Sutherland Rd, Armadale 3143
You are invited to an innovative dialogue between faith communities, disability support organisations, families and advocates.
Inclusion Designlab is conducting a short community forum that aims to demystify the roles of disability support organisations and faith communities in encouraging greater participation of people with intellectual disability in their chosen faith. This forum is being conducted as part of a faith participation and community inclusion project conducted by Inclusion Melbourne. A 12 month trial has been conducted, with the intention of connecting and including people with an intellectual disability with their chosen faith community.
The topics that will be discussed include:
- Staff as facilitators of Faith Inclusion
- Risk perception
- Faith vs Spirituality vs Meaning vs Faith community
- Is there a model to support people with disability in faith communities?
- Navigating cultural traditions
- Buy-in from family, friends and advocates
- Genuine welcome in the community
- What are good outcomes? What is good support?
Why do we want your input?
- Your expertise and opinion in supporting people with intellectual disability to access places of worship.
- You are the expert. Through collaborating with you we hope to create a valuable resource that will assist all faith communities and disability service providers to navigate the process of supporting a person to be included in a faith community.
Places of Worship Bus Tour: Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network
(Please pass on to your respective networks)
The Brimbank and Maribyrnong Interfaith Network invites you to:
Places of Worship Bus Tour (Western Region of Melbourne) | Cultural Diversity Week 2016
Date: Friday, 4 March 2016
Time: 9am to 4pm
Location: 9am – Meet at Maribyrnong City Council located at 67 Hyde St, Footscray.
9:20am – Meet at Brimbank City Council located at 6-18 Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine
Finish at approximately 4pm – Drop off at pick up point.
As part of Cultural Diversity Week 2016, the Brimbank Maribyrnong Interfaith Network invites you to join us on the following tour. This is an opportunity to witness the religious and cultural diversity in the western region of Melbourne.
The tour will visit:
- Sunshine Mosque, Sunshine
- Sikh Temple, Hoppers Crossing
- Quang Minh Buddhist Temple, Braybrook
Please wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing covering thighs and shoulders. Please Note: You may be asked to remove your shoes or cover your head to enter some areas of worship.
Light lunch and refreshments will be provided. This is a no cost community event but registration is essential. Limited spaces. All welcome to attend.
Register
online or call 03 9688 0342. For
more information about the Brimbank & Maribyrnong Interfaith Network and other events visit
www.bmin.org.au.
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The Frankston Interfaith Network would like to invite you to:
Harmony Day | Understanding the range of beliefs, practices and traditions within faiths
Date: Sunday 20 March 2016 Time: 2 to 4pm
Location: Cube 37, 37 Davey Street Frankston
Across Christianity, Islam and Judaism, groups range in practice and beliefs. Come along to find out more about the variety within these religions from approachable and learned speakers.
We offer this afternoon as a chance to listen, learn and deepen our understanding of the range of beliefs, practices and traditions within faiths.
This is a free event.
RSVP essential: 17 March 2017
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The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne together with 17 interfaith and other organisations invite you to:
#I'll Dine With You | World Interfaith Harmony Week 2016
Date: Monday 29 February 2016 Time: 6:00pm (registration), 6:30pm-9pm (dinner)
Location: City Square, corner of Swanston Street & Collins Street
Be a part of the #IllDineWithYou interfaith and intercultural open-air dining experience and actively support our vibrant diverse communities. Enjoy an inspirational evening along our spectacular eighty metre dining table in the heart of Melbourne. Do what Melbournians do best and connect with people through great conversation with food!
Three course vegetarian meal. Includes entertainment and special guests. No alcohol.
Registration starts at 6pm | Dinner 6:30pm to 9pm
Tickets: $25 - $20 Students/ConcessionBookings: Click here
(Please pass on to your respective networks)
Hume Interfaith Network invites you to:
Multi-Faith Service
Date: Tuesday 8 March 2016 Time: 5:30pm to 7pm
Location: Broadmeadows Town Hall, 1079 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
This event will give you an insight into the different faiths that represent Hume City and celebrate our strength in diversity.
This event is supported by Hume City Council.
(Please pass on to your respective networks)
The National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Victoria) would like to invite you to:
Women's Interfaith Model Passover Seder (Women Only Event)
Date: Monday 4 April 2016
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: The Eva Besen Centre, 131-133 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North
Speakers: Rabbi Allison RH Conyer
This year's theme - Bring a relative or friend!
Learn about the traditions and customs of this eight-day festival which commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Includes a specially prepared ‘Seder’ type meal, take home booklet and packet of matzah We are encouraging participants to bring a friend or relative from the same or different faith with whom to share this experience.
About the speaker: Rabbi Allison Conyer of the Etz Chayim Progressive Synagogue in Bentleigh will be facilitating the seder. She brings with her a passion for the Jewish faith and a wealth of experience in interfaith dialogue both here and in the US.
Please Note: This is a Women only event.
Cost: $25
Kosher Vegetarian meal servedClick here for
Registration.
More information: Phone: (03) 9044 5401
The event is partnered with United Jewish Education Board and supported by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.Read More
