VMS is pleased to announce that we will again join the Hindu Parishad and Cultural Centre in co-hosting our annual Multi-faith Arts Devotional. “One Spirit: Celebrating our Faiths Together” will take place at 4:00 pm, Sunday, 27 October, 2024 at 1934 Cultra Ave. in Saanichton. Please register in advance using this registration link or the poster QR code.
One Spirit celebrates all faiths through song, poetry, chanting, drumming and other joyful forms of expression, followed at about 5:30 p.m. by a delicious East Asian vegetarian meal. All are welcome!
There is no charge for the meal or for the event, but cash donations will be accepted at the door or online through the VMS website under Donate. (Please include the message “Hindu Temple event” on all online donations.) We hope to see you there!
VMS again collaborated on the annual commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki held on Tuesday, 6 August, at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion outside the Japanese Gardens.
Participants numbered about 150 to 200 people. The weather was beautiful, the lanterns bright and creative, and the presentations and performances absolutely wonderful. Added this year was a magical procession at sunset set to live flute music, with the lit lanterns placed gently in the reflective pools of the Pavilion. A selection of photos is at this link: Hiroshima-Nagasaki Honouring Peace 2024
It was especially poignant to have Dr Dillon Takata as our MC. Dillon is a descendant of the Takata family who owned the tea garden where the Pavilion is now located, before being taken to internment camps during WWII.
The Esquimalt Bahá’í community coordinated the lantern-making workshop, filling the entire ground floor of the Pavilion with art materials and busy people of all ages from 6 to 7 pm. Special thanks also go to presenters Elder Carolyn Memnook for her greeting and blessing, Mayor Maja Tait who spoke on behalf of MP Randall Garrison, Tsugio Kurushima of the Nikkei Society, reader Samantha Jones and Sharon Welsh of the Greater Victoria Peace School. Our talented musicians and singers were Emilia Vozian on flute, the Gettin’ Higher Choir, and the feistier-than-ever Raging Grannies. And of course at the heart of the event were the Taiko drummers and Furusato dancers!
Organizer Megumi Saunders is already thinking of next year, which will be the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima-Nagasaki, and has already reserved the Pavilion for August 6, 2025.
Register Here for our first in series Spiritual Perspectives on Hot Topics to be held on Sunday, 11 August from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, at the Victoria Truth Centre, 2815 Cedar Hill Rd. (at Hillside Ave.) Come join us as we explore together the topic of Social Media and its impact on our lives. Please register early since numbers are limited.
Spiritual Perspectives is a new bi-monthly event presented by the Victoria Multifaith Society in conjunction with various communities associated with VMS.
Each event will be hosted by a different religious/spiritual community and will include:
Brief keynote on a specific topic by the host community
Recognizing the hurt and anguish that the conflict in Gaza has caused in individuals and communities, an interfaith committee decided to plan an event to somehow address this. The idea that developed was to have conversations, or “Listening Circles”, among people of the four Abrahamic faiths, all of which have direct ties to the region.
On April 16, 40 people gathered in Christ Church Cathedral, 10 from each community: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i. The evening began with a panel composed of members of those faiths (Rev. Jeannine Friesen, Rabbi Harry Brechner, Mustafa Abousaleh, and Adrienne Carter) responding briefly to two questions:
What are your biggest concerns around establishing peace & harmony in the world? And what are your biggest hopes or solutions?
Participants then split into small groups composed of two members from each of the 4 faiths for facilitated discussions on the same questions, gathering refreshments en route. The discussions were heartfelt, honest, sometimes emotional, often personal, always thoughtful. When people gathered again in a large group at the end of the evening, the feeling was that this was so beneficial and healing, we should definitely do it again.
In the words of one participant who sent a message right after the event: This space is a place of learning in many ways. Personally, I entered with greetings and hugs for my friends from [my community], and I left enriched with phone numbers, meaningful connections, profound conversations, and healing embraces from new friends from the other communities. Let’s continue to listen, understand, and bring our hearts… I am in whatever the next step will be.
The Garry Oak gymnasium was full to the brim for the World Religions Conference, with 390 people attending. Ten speakers gave short presentations on the theme of Kindness and Kinship, each introduced by MC Saanich Councillor Karen Harper, following a blessing by First Nations Elder Joan Morris.
Just the few thoughts chosen in the selection below serve to illustrate the beauty and complementarity of the perspectives expressed, although much more was said.
Cat Vallance of the Bahá’í Faith spoke of carrying forward an ever-advancing civilization and the teaching to “let your heart burn with loving-kindness for every soul who crosses your path”. Rev. Allan Doerksen of St Phillips Anglican church told a memorable story of the restoration of a relationship through a thousand small acts of kindness, illustrating its immense power to heal.
Maulana Umran Bhatti of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spoke of kindness as a universal language embedded in the teachings of Islam. Gurdeep Singh of the Sikh tradition emphasized the power of One in contrast to the suffering of duality caused by spiritual separation from each other.
Richard Rush, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, recalled one of the most profound spiritual teachings, to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbour as yourself. Rabbi Matthew Ponak reminded us of the kindness foundational to Judaism, quoting Hillel: “That which is hateful unto you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary.”
Rev. Lesia Kohut spoke of the New Thought teaching that we create our own reality and therefore need to love everyone without exception, including our enemies. Dr Anneli Driessen of the Metaphysical Academy remarked on the universality of human emotion and the ability of kindness to make our connection stronger, drawing us together.
Wayne Codling, a Buddhist, offered that kindness is stronger than fear, and meditation a potent tool for creating greater openness and receptivity to that reality. Onkar Hans of the Hindu community explained the symbolism of the great wheel of life with the universal intelligence of God at the hub, and all humanity, all life, as the spokes connected to that centre. He reiterated the common sentiment, repeated by many that day, that we are all one, in kinship with the Creator.
As one participant said, it was like watching the light grow brighter in the room as each speaker added the unique perspective of their own wisdom tradition to all the others.
Thanks go out to all the volunteers, organizers, speakers, MC, and especially to the Ahmadiyya community for their generosity in offering the event and the delicious East Indian meal that followed.
We regret that we’ve been informed of a threat of disruption to our Prayers for Peace sessions (announced below for 28-Jan-24 and 4-Feb-24). Since we do not have the capacity to ensure the safety and comfort of those coming for prayer, we’re forced to postpone them until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that similar meetings can be held at a later date.
With ongoing conflict and suffering continuing to cause enormous pain, the Victoria Multifaith Society is planning with members of the Muslim and Jewish communities and VICCIR (Vancouver Island Centre for Immigrants & Refugees) to hold a multi-faith Prayers for Peace in the meeting room adjoining VICCIR, at Quality Inn, 850 Blanshard St., corner of Courtney. (Directions below.)
There will be 2 sessions to accommodate different schedules:
1. Sunday, January 28th, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
2. Sunday, February 4th, 1:30 to 3:30 pm
This is a beautiful and profound invitation for everyone to set aside political differences and come together in prayer and intention to know the greatest and highest good for all involved.
People from many backgrounds will each recite, sing, or chant a prayer for peace, followed by light refreshments. Time will be given at the beginning for people to socialize and seat themselves before the program begins.
Please enter through the Quality Inn courtyard to access the meeting room, which is at street level. Parking is available on the street as well as underground at the Central Library.
There will be no slogans, banners or political messaging. All are welcome as we gather peacefully in a prayerful atmosphere, to begin the process of healing with the words “Shalom” and “Salaam”.
The World Religions Conference for 2024 will be held on Sunday, February 4th, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. Please register (free) at https://worldreligionsconference.ca/
The venue will be the same as last year’s very successful event, in the Garry Oak Room of Saanich Commonwealth Place. The event is spearheaded by the Ahmadiyyah Muslim Community, which hosts similar events across the country. Victoria’s conference is co-sponsored by the Victoria Multifaith Society for the 2nd year in a row. The theme this year is Kindness and Kinship, two qualities sorely needed in the world as we begin 2024.
Saanich Councillor Karen Harper will moderate a wonderful panel of speakers from 9 faith traditions (see poster) presenting diverse perspectives on this important topic. As always, the wisdom within these beautiful teachings will inspire as well as inform. The audience will be treated to an East Indian dinner following the presentations. The dinner and event are free of charge, courtesy of the Ahmadiyya community.
The beautiful new 2024 Multifaith Calendar is available here from the Multifaith Action Society in print and electronic versions. Featuring 23 pieces of stunning original art from visual artists across North America and Internationally, the 10″x13″ calendar can be used as a gift or to become more aware of the various commemorations and special days of each spiritual tradition.
• An inclusive and comprehensive source of information for those wanting to learn more about world religions.
• A unique and comprehensive resource for organizations wishing to demonstrate inclusivity and a welcoming environment for customers and co-workers.
VMS held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday Oct. 29, 2023 at the Multifaith Centre at the University of Victoria. Thanks go out to our Chair John Borrows as MC, Rev. Lesia Kohut for her inspiring keynote presentation on Cultivating Harmony in a Polarized World, and to all those who reported and participated.
Warm appreciation was expressed to outgoing board members Janine Theobald (Buddhist Seat), Jagir Virk (Sikh Seat), Ora Stefanic (Jewish Seat) and David Batterham (Bahá’í Seat) for their dedicated service on the VMS Board.
Welcome and unanimous affirmation were given to Fletcher Bennett (Bahá’í Seat), Rabbi Harry Brechner (Jewish Seat), and Bhavin-Singh Nihang (Sikh Seat). It was noted that the Buddhist seat remains vacant and the board is seeking candidates.
VMS Board 2023 – 2024: Sheila Flood, Executive Director John Borrows – Chair, Indigenous Spirituality Henri Lock – Secretary, Christian seat Fletcher Bennett – Treasurer, Bahá’í seat Rabbi Harry Brechner – Jewish seat Shrikant Shenwai – Hindu seat Rev. Lesia Kohut – New Thought May Shihadeh – Muslim seat Bhavin-Singh Nihang – Sikh seat Vacant – Buddhist seat
