The ManItoba Multifaith Council cordially invites faith communities from across the province to join together in unity to pray for peace the weekend of December 15 – 17. During this time of year, many faith traditions share an emphasis on light, peace, and goodwill towards all humanity. To that end, we would ask individuals, churches, and groups to focus their prayers, teaching, meditation, or worship on love, compassion, and understanding as a foundation for lasting peace. We hope to invoke this healing power at a time when tensions are high in our province and anger and violence is increasing in communities across the country.
A selection of sample prayers for peace will be made available on the Manitoba Multifaith Council’s website for those who wish to incorporate these messages into their worship or devotions.
We have created the hashtag #prayforpeace and encourage participants to share their experiences by posting on their personal social media platforms or on Manitoba Multifaith Council’s Facebook page, accompanied by the hashtag. We hope this weekend of prayer can have a positive impact on our communities and we look forward to hearing your insights and reflections.
Below is a poster for you to print, post and share as you see fit.
For questions and additional information please contact:
Rocky Baronins
Chair, Community Relations Committee
Manitoba Multifaith Council
rbaronins@gmail.com
| Manitoba Multifaith Council (MMC) is pleased to invite you to the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding. This year’s recipient is journalist John Longhurst, a journalist with the Winnipeg Free Press.Normally, this event is presented at Government House. Due to COVID-19, MMC is hosting a virtual event on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m., and can be viewed by registering at this link. John has been a Winnipeg Free Press Faith Page columnist since 2003. Today, it is the only Faith page remaining in Canada. Much of the credit for its continued existence can be attributed to an initiative by John and the Winnipeg Free Press. In March 2019, John reached out to faith groups across Winnipeg in a bid to help provide financial support in order to preserve news reporting on faith communities. Some 17 faith-based groups have lent their support to the project, and this has meant that John’s reports are no longer limited to the Saturday edition of the paper. Winnipeg Free Press readers have learned more about the activities and contributions of faith groups, and attendance has increased at events presented by these communities. In consequence, the diverse audiences at these events fostered dialogue and understanding. It is particularly during the time of this COVID-19 that John’s work has been particularly prominent, appreciated, and helpful. John has written extensively on the response of faith groups and “pivots” that so many have had to make in these challenging times, as well as noting COVID stories that have shone a light on the generosity of Winnipeg faith communities without shying away from writing about the thankfully rare examples where groups have behaved in ways that have endangered others. John has also encouraged Manitobans to support front-line workers. As the only daily newspaper in Canada with reporters dedicated to covering religion, the Free Press occupies a unique position of being able to document, on a weekly basis, the impact of this global pandemic on faith communities, along with responses from people of faith. All of this comes in large part due to John’s vision and commitment who recognized the importance of faith awareness, understanding and education for Manitobans. “In this province where we so proudly embrace multiculturalism, Mr. Longhurst’s vision, passion and commitment to bring voices from our diverse religious and cultural communities together, truly exemplifies the spirit of this award,” said Her Honour, Lt.-Gov. Janice C. Filmon. “It will be my pleasure to formally recognize Mr. Longhurst for his work in building harmony and understanding in our province, our country, our world.” Indeed, for decades, John has served as advocate and chronicler in the fields of Christian ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue and understanding. Most of his engagement over the course of his career has been avocational: a labour of love. The breadth of vision attained through his international work has opened his heart and mind to diversity in such a way as to make him a champion for the interfaith enterprise in Manitoba and across Canada. He is committed to a “level playing field” for religious expression and religious freedom. |
For International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the sealing of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada was proud to partner with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for a special online event. The program includes a screening of the 60‐minute film Memories of the Warsaw Ghetto, followed by an interactive discussion with Holocaust survivor Dr. Stefan Carter [Reicher].
The recording of the program in its entirety Is now posted to our YouTube channel.
