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VOLUNTEER PUBLISHING
TEAM:
Rev.
Leslie Gabriel Mezei
Publisher
Rev.
Terry Weller
Editor, Layout, Webmaster
Additional
volunteers
are
welcome
to
do some
research,
reorganize
&
expand the Resources
Section,
start
a
Directory
of
Interfaith Organizations,
help
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AN INTERFAITH DAY FOR YOUTH |
NEWS REPORT |
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By: Rev. Terry Weller, Interfaith Unity Editor
Saturday
September 14 was truly an active day of peace at the
Multi-faith centre in
the University of
An
interfaith day for youth was
organized by Father Terry Gallagher of Scarboro
Missions, Nina Meyerhof of
Children of the Earth (United Nations NGO), Diane
Longboat of the Sacred
Fire of the Great Peace (Six nations Reserve), with
the assistance of
Marco Mascarin
of the Institute of Traditional Medicine and a host of
volunteers.
This
day focused on the World Spirit Youth Council who had
representatives from
Japan,
Afghanistan, Thailand, Nepal, Africa, Europe, Latin
America, USA &
Canada. A total of 22 young council members were in
attendance. Over 100
individuals, many of them youths, were gathered in the
audience.
The
World
Spirit Youth Council grew out of the tireless work of
Nina Meyerhof. Nina
is a well recognized worker for world peace at the
International level.
Her work within the U.N. gave rise to the Children
of the Earth Program. From there she began to develop
the World Spirit
Youth Council.
Nina
believes peace is more than the absence of war. It is
a state of
Being. To accomplish this state of being, new
educational models must
evolve that further character development, conscious
living skills and
mutual understanding. She wished to impart this to
young people and to
allow them to experience a life situation which goes
beyond just being a
member of a spiritual group. They would now be able to
experience the
universality of all peoples by discovering how we are
all brothers and
sisters to each other.
She
also believes that spirituality is an expression.
Projects such as feeding
the poor, co-operative housing, are the effect, the
outcome, of finding
ones own spirituality.
The
World
Spirit Youth Council currently has hubs in Toronto,
Japan, Nepal and
Thailand. A Hub is a group of young people who meet
regularly, organize
events and seek to live their belief together.
The
Toronto hub formed in 2005 with the assistance of
Fr.
Terry Gallagher, Nina Meyerhof, Marco Mascarin,
and Diane Longboat.
Morning
events began at about 9:30 with the arrival of the
runners who had been
involved in the Sri
Chinmoy Peace /Harmony Run in Toronto. After their
arrival the runners
mingled with the peace event participants outside of
the Multi-Faith
Centres doors. The leader of the runners, Shivaram,
and Father Terry
had a spirited time describing Sri Chinmoys life, work
and devotion to
physical fitness. Sri
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose
was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher who
emigrated to the
The
day continued in the sacred space on the second floor
of the Multi-faith
centre The Youth Council members sat in a circle at
the front of the room.
Fr. Terry introducing Diane Longboat and members of
her group. Two of them
involved the seated members of the Youth Council in a
Smudging Ceremony.
Fr.
Terry then asked Diane Longboat and her group to offer
a stirring song of
forgiveness (seeking and giving) between the ancestors
of indigenous
peoples and the those of the European heritage. She
had performed this
piece in Europe as part of her meeting with the Youth
Council there.
The
Council members were given time to introduce
themselves to the audience of
just over a hundred people. They spoke from their
heart concerning their
wish for world peace, for understanding between
peoples, for acceptance
and love to grow between people as they all begin to
realize we are all
equal.
They
spoke of their personal commitment to this goal of
world peace. As one
member said, Our generation is the Make it or Break it
generation.
The
Youth Council members arrived at the university
following their 5-day
experience of First Nations traditions & practices
with Diane Longboat
at Sacred
Fire of the Great Peace on the Six nations Reserve
just outside of
Brantford. Diane says that the youth were involved in
indigenous
ceremonies designed to help them feel connected to
Spirit and the natural
rhythms of the Mother Earth. This further assisted
them to deepen their
own spirituality within their own faith traditions.
Diane
states; These youth are passionate about their
spirituality. They work
on building spiritual strength: mentally,
physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The
balance of the day was spent in small group
discussions. Each group was
led by a council member. In attendance was also an
Elder, usually a
leader of faith group. This demonstrated how the group
places importance
on communication between youth and elders, holding the
truth
that each can learn from the other.
In
wrapping up it was decided that the Toronto Core Group
of World
Spirit Youth Council, as well as their spiritual
elders, would meet on
Saturday, October 25 between 9:00 am and 12 noon at
the Multi-faith centre.
All interested individuals are invited to join with
the group at that
time.
The
Multi-faith Centre is at 569 Spadina Avenue, Toronto.
Entrance is at the
rear of the building.
PICTURES
AT;
http://picasaweb.google.com/Interfaith.Unity/InterfaithYouthDay#
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Multi-Faith Centre at University of Toronto
Youth participants join with incoming Marathon runners.
Father Terry Gallagher leads cheers for the runners.
Registration of guests and participants.
Council of Youth form a circle in front of audience.
Native Smudging Ceremony.
Sacred Fire of the Great Peace sing a song of forgiveness between their native ancestors and those of European descent.
Council members introduce themselves and share who they are and what their aspirations are for the Council.
Members break out into small groups, each with an Elder leader. |
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