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Le Congrès islamique canadien a rendu hommage au sénateur Douglas Roche en lui décernant son prix de la Paix 2003 pour son travail en faveur de la justice sociale au Canada et de la paix à travers le monde. Ce prix, venant de la plus importante organisation musulmane du Canada, a été présenté au sénateur lors d'un dîner de gala le 20 octobre à Ottawa. Le sénateur Roche parle fréquemment de l'obligation des politiciens de tenir compte de leur foi dans leur travail. Son dernier ouvrage, The Human Right to Peace, a été publié l'automne dernier.
La Banque de céréales vivrières du Canada (The Canadian Foodgrains Bank), qui a célébré son 20e anniversaire en 2003, est un système centralisé de stockage et de distribution de céréales qui a pour but de combattre la faim dans le monde. Fondée en partenariat avec treize Églises au Canada, elle permet aux fermiers canadiens de partager leurs abondantes récoltes. Elle recueille des céréales et autres ressources chez les fermiers, les communautés ecclésiales et la population canadienne, pour appuyer les agences membres dans des projets à court et à long terme de lutte contre la faim dans le monde. Les dons à la Banque de céréales sont quadruplés par le gouvernement canadien.
« Notre rôle est de répondre aux besoins spirituels des membres des forces canadiennes (FC) et de leurs familles », a déclaré le brigadier-général Ronald Bourque, prêtre catholique devenu, le 28 septembre dernier, aumônier-général des forces canadiennes pour les deux prochaines années, succédant au commodore Timothy Maindonald, aumônier anglican. La fonction d'aumônier-général est confiée en alternance à un catholique et à un protestant à tous les deux ans. Le brigadier-général Bourque a aussi mentionné que le Comité interconfessionnel pour l'aumônerie militaire canadienne a pris, l'année dernière, la décision « historique » de donner son appui à un aumônier musulman, qui a suivi le cours élémentaire d'officier pour les aumôniers. « Le nombre de musulmans dans les forces canadiennes justifie-t-il cette décision ? » a demandé le brigadier-général Bourque. « Probablement pas, mais c'était la bonne décision. »
Kairos : Initiatives canadiennes oecuméniques pour la justice tient des réunions dans cinq régions du pays afin d'obtenir des appuis pour sa campagne « Cultiver une paix juste ». « La paix que nous désirons ne s'obtient pas par en resserrant nos frontières ni en accroissant notre puissance militaire, dit l'organisation, mais en construisant un monde de justice où tous les humains soient délivrés de la faim et de la peur. » Kairos compte cinq régions anglophones et un partenariat francophone au Québec avec le Réseau oecuménique justice et paix.
Nouvelles régionales
Ontario
La cinquième série annuelle de conférences Théodore Ratisbonne s'est tenue au Madden Hall à Toronto, le 29 octobre 2003, sous le thème « Vivre l'espoir et le courage dans des temps agités ». L'événement, parrainé par les Soeurs de Notre-Dame de Sion, comportait une discussion animée avec les membres d'un panel interreligieux : Jessie Caryll, Mary Ellen Sheehan et Barbara Siddiqui.
Qu'il y ait la paix sur la terre : sous ce thème a eu lieu un service de prière pour la paix interreligieux, le 16 octobre 2003 à l'église de la Sainte-Trinité, près du Centre Eaton dans le centre-ville de Toronto. Née de l'esprit d'Assise, la célébration était organisée par l'office de l'oecuménisme de l'archidiocèse de Toronto et les franciscains avec des participants des diverses religions qu'on peut trouver dans l'une des villes les plus multiculturelles au monde. Une cérémonie de purification autochtone était aussi au programme.
Habitat pour l'humanité, le ministère chrétien d'aide au logement, a entrepris, avec l'aide de centaines de bénévoles des églises de la région de Toronto, la construction de 40 nouvelles. À la fabrique de maisons usinées d'Habitat, des équipes assemblent les murs, les planchers et les structures pour un quartier entier de familles monoparentales qui devrait être inauguré le printemps prochain dans l'est de Toronto. Les pasteurs et dirigeants religieux ont donné l'exemple, du 15 au 21 septembre, en maniant le marteau et en sciant des planches pendant la semaine « Construire sur la foi » organisée par Habitat. Pour vous joindre à cette oeuvre vous pouvez communiquer avec Deborah Bernardino au (416) 755-7353 ou lui envoyer un courriel à : .
Québec
Le premier pique-nique familial organisé par le North Shore Ecumenical Committee of Churches, a eu lieu le 21 septembre 2003 dans le spacieux parc Terry Fox de Dollard-des-Ormeaux. Près de 300 personnes de dix-huit paroisses de l'Ouest de l'Île avaient répondu à l'invitation du comité oecuménique. En tout, quarante-sept membres de diverses dénominations ont travaillé sur six comités pour présenter une variété d'activités -- musique, chant, jeux pour jeunes et vieux et rafraîchissements pour tous. Ce merveilleux rassemblement de chrétiens semblait vraiment animé par l'esprit oecuménique. Des pique-niqueurs enthousiastes ont suggéré d'élargir la base d'opérations pour que toutes les dénominations partagent ce qu'elles ont en commun les unes avec les autres à travers d'autres activités unificatrices, telles un concert oecuménique et des oeuvres de charité permanentes.
« La Terre et tout ce qu'elle contient », panel public sur la biotechnologie et la foi, parrainé par le Conseil canadien des Églises et le Centre canadien d'oecuménisme, a eu lieu le 7 octobre 2003 à Montréal. On a pu y entendre des allocutions par Devlin Kuyek, Margaret Somerville et François Pouliot ainsi qu'une réflexion théologique par Paul Fayter, et débattre de sujets tels : la propriété des formes de vie ; la Cour suprême du Canada et les bio-brevets; les aliments génétiquement modifiés ; les possibilités de clonage humain et de culture de tissus humains; les nouvelles technologies les considérations éthiques.
Une cérémonie de présentation de reliques sacrées a eu lieu du 9 au 13 octobre au Centre social et culturel bouddhique Huyen Khong de Montréal. Les plus hautes autorités bouddhiques du monde ont choisi ce Centre pour l'exposition des reliques du grand bouddha Shâkyamuni et des grands maîtres lamas vénérés comme saints. La collection de reliques voyagera à travers le monde jusqu'en 2008 alors qu'elle sera placée dans un reliquaire à l'intérieur de la statue du bouddha Maitreya, haute de 150 mètres, qui se trouve à Kushinagara, Inde, lieu où le bouddha Shâkyamuni atteignit le Paranirvâna. Elle devrait être un symbole de paix pour mille ans.
« Mariages interconfessionnels : réalités et changements aujourd'hui » était le thème d'un dialogue oecuménique tenu le 22 novembre, de 9h à midi, à la paroisse Saint-François d'Assise de Saint-Lambert. L'événement, organisé par le comité oecuménique du diocèse de Saint-Jean-Longueuil, présentait un panel composé de membres de l'Église catholique et d'autres Églises chrétiennes ainsi que deux couples, suivi d'une période de questions et réponses. Pour informations complémentaires sur cet événement, appeler le 450-679-1100, poste 277.
Provinces de l'Ouest
Un atelier sous le thème « Des moyens pratiques d'encourager l'oecuménisme dans votre paroisse », organisé par la Commission oecuménique de l'archidiocèse de Regina le 25 octobre, a réuni des délégués oecuméniques paroissiaux, des pasteurs et d'autres personnes intéressées. Après deux séances dirigées par le conférencier invité, l'abbé Bernard de Margerie, de petits groupes se sont réunis pour étudier deux questions : « Qu'est-ce qui a bien fonctionné et pourquoi? » et « Quels ont été les principaux obstacles? ». On peut se procurer des trousses sur l'oecuménisme au coût de 10$ en s'adressant à : Susan Klein, sec., Archidiocèse de Regina, 445 Broad St. N., Regina, Sk., S4R 2X8 ; tél. : (306) 352-1651, fax : (306) 545-0510, adresse de courriel : .
Les activités au programme de l'Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action comprenaient un premier concert-célébration de musique multireligieuse et de rythmes sacrés, avec la participation de chorales des religions bahaïe, hindoue, juive et unitarienne; un dialogue entre chrétiens, musulmans, hindous, jaïns, sikhs et zoroastriens sur les samskaras ou rites de passage; la publication d'une brochure intitulée Safe and Caring Schools for Students of All Faiths en collaboration avec la Alberta Teacher's Association. Un concert réunissant des représentants de treize religions est prévu pour la Journée mondiale des religions, en janvier 2004.
La Communauté Emmanuel est un rejeton du Inner City Pastoral Ministry, mission interconfessionnelle qui existe depuis vingt-cinq ans et qui dessert les habitants du centre-ville d'Edmonton. Elle comprend des gens à faible revenu, des mères célibataires et des sans-abri. « Ils vous prennent là où vous êtes rendu » a dit une maman de deux enfants. « Ils vous traitent comme Jésus le ferait, avec amour et respect. » Le service religieux est toujours suivi d'un repas chaud pour ceux qui participent au service aussi bien que pour ceux qui ne viennent que pour le repas. Au cours de l'année dernière, quelque soixante-dix-huit organismes ecclésiaux ont donné et préparé la nourriture pour les célébrations hebdomadaires. « L'ICPM est une présence respectueuse et efficace pour les gens du centre-ville » dit l'adjointe pastorale, Sr Marion Garneau. Elle ajoute que le fait que l'ICPM soit une « église sans murs » est non seulement approprié, mais tout à fait en accord avec la réalité de plusieurs de ceux qu'elle sert. « Ce n'est pas bien différent du ministère de Jésus dans les Évangiles. »
International news
"East Meets West: Understanding the Muslim Presence in Europe and North America," was the theme of the conference held September 26-28 at Indiana University, Bloomington. The 32nd annual meeting of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists featured presentations by more than fifty of the world's leading scholars on Islam and the study of Muslim Societies. Rather than characterizing Islam as something alien, foreign and exotic, the conference emphasized that Muslims are part of the fabric of western society. In the keynote address Dr. Ali Mazrui, director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at the State University of New York-Binghamton, spoke on: "A Marriage of Two Civilizations? The Balance Between Western Norms and Muslim Values." Among the topics explored at the conference were the political and philosophical perspectives of Islam on democracy and the identity and assimilation of Muslim culture in Western societies.
A "broadscale partnership" has been approved by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) with the Ecumenical Consultative Council of the Disciples of Christ. This opens the way for the establishment of stronger ties between the Disciples Organization and WARC with over two hundred member churches representing seventy-five million Christians in the world. The Disciples of Christ (sometimes called Churches of Christ) emerged from two 19th Century American religious movements and are a denomination of the reformed tradition. The forty member churches in the Disciples Ecumenical Council comprise about one million Christians. With the approval of a similar resolution by the Disciples, the WARC and the Ecumenical Council of the Disciples could undertake common projects such as the coordination of their bilateral dialogues with the Catholic Church.
According to the latest figures of the well-known religious statistician, David B. Barrett, 33.1 % of the world population is Christian (all denominations). Of these, 1.1 billion are Catholic, 356 million are Protestant, 218 million Orthodox and nearly 83 million Anglican.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) has elected Samuel Kobia as its new general secretary, the first African to occupy this post. In a speech made immediately following his election, Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia from the Methodist Church in Kenya reaffirmed his commitment to the ecumenical vision: "I believe very strongly that working together and walking together will help us fulfill the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ that all may be one, that the world may believe." Kobia, who will take up the post in January, succeeds Konrad Raiser of the Evangelical Church in Germany. The World Council of Churches, founded in 1948, is a fellowship of 342 Christian churches worldwide.
The Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) (2001-2010) has designated the United States as its 2004 focus. The DOV's US focus will aim at strengthening churches and movements working for peace in the USA, encouraging a commitment to mutual accountability, and deepening the churches' understanding of issues such as power, militarism, and community-building. In launching the Decade, "The WCC set a broad framework," said Rev. Dr. Fernando Enns of the Mennonite Church in Germany. "Churches and agencies have to decide themselves how to deal with issues; everyone has to decide where the violence is in their context. Then we have to bring it back into the fellowship of churches and share it here. Having this decade gives visibility to work which has been going on in churches for years." The DVO focus in 2005 will be Asia, and in 2006 Latin America. Information on the Decade to Overcome Violence is available on www2.wcc-coe.org/dov.nsf.
The place of disabled people in the life of church and community is explored in a profoundly insightful document entitled "A Church of All and for All", prepared by the Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network (EDAN) and the WCC's Faith and Order Commission. Urging the inclusion of people with disabilities just as they are, the report says, "Without the full incorporation of persons who can contribute from the experience of disability, the Church falls short of the glory of God, and cannot claim to be in the image of God." More information is available on the website www.wcc-coe.org.
The next world conference on mission and evangelism will be held in Athens, Greece 12-19 May, 2005 on the theme "Come Holy Spirit Heal and Reconcile: Called in Christ to be Reconciling and Healing Communities". Approximately five hundred participants are expected. The last such conference took place in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil in 1996. The 2005 conference venue and dates were adopted with the stated aim "to empower participants to continue in their call to be in mission together and to work towards reconciliation and healing in Christ, in God's world today." Visibility is to be given to various concerns, including: women and missiology; the role of the Holy Spirit in mission, links with the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence; and biblical studies on reconciliation and Healing.
Members of the Reformed/Roman Catholic International Dialogue met in Toronto August 16 to 22 for discussions on the text: The Church as Community of Common Witness to the Kingdom of God. The international ecumenical commission has been studying this question since its 2001 meeting in South Africa. Though the Toronto talks were constructive Peter Wyatt from the Reformed side of the dialogue said "that the more than 200 churches which trace their roots to the 16th century Reformation are frustrated by the Catholics' inability to build on or move beyond the 40-year-old Vatican II statements about the nature of the church." The Catholic co-chair of the dialogue Bishop Anthony Farquhar from Belfast, said that if ecumenism is slowing down, it may have more to do with the professionalization of dialogue. The challenge to academic theologians on international commissions is to put their message in language that ordinary people will understand and care about. The Reformed/Roman Catholic International Dialogue is important to ecumenical relations among all churches because the two sides represent such a large part of the Western tradition in Christianity, said Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches. If the Reformed and Catholic Churches can agree on what the church is, it will light the path for other ecumenical dialogues, she said.
Progress in the dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox was advanced at the Inter-Christian Symposium held in Ioannina, Greece in early September. The Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Antonianum Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome and the Theology Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessalonica of the Greek Orthodox Church began a series of such symposiums in 1992. The theme of the 2003 meeting was "The Relation Between Spirituality and Christian Dogma in the East and West."
Churches must make interfaith cooperation a priority according to the president of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Apostolic Church. "Dialogue, good relations and cooperation with other religions must occupy an important place in the ecumenical witness of the Council," he said. Founded in 1948 to promote Unity and cooperation among churches, the WCC has a long history of involvement in interreligious dialogue. Catholicos Aram I noted that many churches, non-governmental organizations, centers of other religions and even some governments are waiting for the WCC to take the initiative in the promotion of interreligious dialogue so that these kinds of dialogues do not remain just "isolated efforts."
A Canadian, Sylvia Van Haverbeke of Newcastle, Ontario was elected to a four-year term as head of the International World Day of Prayer at its meeting in England in August. Van Haverbeke, who has a Master of Divinity degree and is an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough, was proposed by women representatives from Egypt and Denmark. World Day of Prayer, written each year by women from different countries, is marked in 171 countries around the world each March. It is celebrated in 2000 communities across Canada. Van Haverbeke is the first Catholic and second Canadian to hold the post.
The Mennonite Catholic International Dialogue has produced its first document after five years of study. The Mennonite World Council accepted the paper in July and is awaiting final acceptance by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity before publication and distribution of the document to 1.2 million Mennonites in 48 countries. Once the new document, "Called Together to be Peacemakers" is published, the members of the dialogue will likely begin talking about the shape of future talks, said Helmut Harder, a Mennonite member of the dialogue. Catholics and Mennonites have plenty to say to one another, not just on peace and justice but also on ecclesiology, sacrament and doctrine. "We believe in community; we believe in the Church ? I mean in an intense kind of way. We believe in the incarnate value of grace," said Harder.
The North American Academy of Ecumenists held its 2003 annual conference near Montreal, September 26-28, on the theme of Christ and Culture Revisited. Highlights of the conference included presentations on the theme by Susan Brown and Karen Hamilton; a look at Faith and Order in US and Canadian Perspectives by George Vandervelde, William Rusch and John Ford; First Nations in Context by Ed Bianci and Bilaterals in Canadian Context by Alyson Barnett-Cowan, Catherine Clifford, and Angelika Piché. A guided tour of four Montreal churches was much appreciated.
Paul Ricoeur, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago and the University of Paris, received the Paul VI Prize for contributions to the development of a religious culture. The prize, which included a cash donation of more than $110,000 to a charity of the recipient's choice, was given to Ricoeur, a Protestant, during an audience with Pope John Paul.
The World Council of Churches has endorsed the draft Convention on the International Protection of Places of Worship proposed to the United Nations by the International Movement for a Just World (JUST). The proposal document aims to ensure the equal treatment of all religious communities in the protection of places of worship. In addition, the convention will form Commissions on Public Places of Worship in participating countries, consisting of government officials and representatives of the various religious communities, to monitor the implementation of convention provisions. The full text of the convention proposal can be found at: www.just-international.org/protection-of-places-of-worship.cfm.
The first "Arab-Christian-Israeli" university has been given the go-ahead by the Israeli Government and opened in the village of Ibillin, northern Galilee, on 21 October. The new university is the idea of Fr. Elias Chacour, a Melkite priest and president of Mar Elias educational institutions, the biggest private school network in Israel. Open to Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druzes the Mar Elias University Campus (MEUC) "will meet a vital need for a serious academic environment where Christian, Muslim and Druze-Arab Israelis as well as Jewish Israelis will have the opportunity to study, plan and search together for a common future of peaceful coexistence," said Fr. Chacour. Initially, MEUC will offer three-year degrees in computing science, chemistry and biology, with an option for graduates to continue their studies in Israel, the United States, or other international universities. Fourteen further fields of study are planned for phased introduction in the next six years.
"Without dialogue, this world will die," said Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio at a three-day meeting of five hundred religious leaders from around the world and thousands of people gathered in September in Aachen Germany for the 2003 edition of "Men, Religions and Peace." The event is held annually in a different city. The motto of this year's meeting was "Between War and Peace: Religions and Cultures Meet." Among those at the meeting were Cardinal Karl Lehman, president of the German Catholic Bishops' Conference, and Nikolaus Schneider, president of the Evangelical Church of the Rhineland. Other religious figures included Metropolitan Kyrill, in charge of Foreign Relations for the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church; former Chief Rabbi Meir Lau of Israel; and Mehmet Aydin, Turkish Minister of State. The event featured talks and workshops on topics ranging from war and abolition of capital punishment to the environment, prayer and immigration. Sant'Egidio began these meetings in the wake of the first interreligious prayer meeting convoked by John Paul II in Assisi, Italy, in 1987.
People of all faiths were invited in September, to a "Celebration of Abraham" held at the Holy Rosary Community Center in Woodland California. The event explored the common bond of the major monotheistic religions represented by Abraham and his journey of faith, the way he answered God's call to travel from his homeland to an unknown country. Rabbi Greg Wolfe of Congregation Bet Haverim hoped that everyone would make the connection: "that just as Abraham received the call, this can be our call to understanding that we're all on the same path together, that we're all trying to make the world a more compassionate, loving place." Hamza El-Nakhal, president of the Islamic Center of Davis, said "We find we're really the same, the difference is in the details. We worship the same god, we're all human beings, we all have feelings. The more we talked, the more we understood each other."
A collective work in honour of Elisabeth Behr-Sigel, French Orthodox theologian, was presented on her 96th birthday last July 20 in an ecumenical celebration at the Carmelite convent of St. Elie near Montbard, France. Among those present were metropolitan Daniel of Moldavia; Bishop Gérard Daucourt of Nanterre; Fr. Boris Bobrinskoy, dean of the Orthodox Theological Institute of Paris; Fr. Golay, provincial of the Discalced Carmelites of Paris; and members of various Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant religious communities. The volume: "Follow me! In honour of Elisabeth Behr-Sigel", is a collection of some forty texts which reveal the diversity of perceptions of the authors coming from various denominations as well as the rich personality whom they honour. Author of numerous works on Orthodox spirituality and history and the ministry of women in the church Elisabeth Behr-Sigel entertains a forty- year friendship with the sisters of the St. Elie Byzantine Catholic Community which is dedicated to promoting closer ties between eastern and western Christians.
National news
The Canadian Islamic Congress honoured Sen. Douglas Roche with it's 2003 Peace Award for his efforts on behalf of social justice in Canada and peace world-wide. The award from Canada's largest Muslim organization was handed out at a gala dinner in Ottawa Oct. 20. Roche frequently speaks about the obligation of politicians to bring their faith to bear on their work. His latest book, The Human Right to Peace, was published this fall.
The Dali Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader living in exile in India, will pay a visit to Toronto at the end of April and the beginning of May, 2004. He will speak on religious matters and share his spiritual insights. He last visited Canada in 1993.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a centralized grain banking and distribution system that targets world hunger, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. The organization, which partners with thirteen Canadian churches, was set up as a practical way for Canadian farmers to share their abundant harvests. CFB collects grain and other resources from farmers, the church community, and the Canadian public, enabling its member agencies to support projects that address both short-and-long term problems of hunger in countries around the world. Donations to CFB are matched four to one by the Canadian government.
"Our role is to provide spiritual leadership to the men and women of the Canadian Forces (CF) and their families," said Brigadier General Ronald Bourque, a Catholic priest who was installed September 28 as the new Chaplain General of the CF for the next two years. The office of the Chaplain General alternates between a Roman Catholic and a Protestant chaplain every two years. Bourque replaced Commodore Timothy Maindonald, an Anglican chaplain. Bourque said that during this past year the members of the Interfaith Committee on the Canadian Military Chaplaincy made an "historic" decision to endorse a Muslim chaplain, who is now a member of the basic chaplain's course. "Do the numbers of Muslims serving in the CF justify their decision? Probably not," he said, "but it was the right decision."
Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is holding meetings in five regions of the country to build support for its campaign entitled "Cultivating Just Peace." The peace we long for is not to be won by tightening our borders, nor by increasing our military might, but rather by building a world of justice where all can enjoy freedom from want and freedom from fear. Kairos has five regions and a francophone partnership based in Quebec.
The 40 years of service of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism were celebrated in an ecumenical thanksgiving worship service on October 29, 2003 at Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal. The theme "One Body, One Spirit, One Hope" lent itself at one and the same time to thanksgiving and praise for the road travelled in ecumenism and for contemplation of the path ahead as well as prayers for a future characterized by dialogue and reconciliation. Reflections on the past, the present and the future of the Centre's work were part of the meditation. Representatives of the different churches in Montreal lit a candle as a sign of the living faith in their churches. After listening again to the call of Christ for unity among all his disciples, a bigger candle was lit symbolizing the communion we are all hoping for. A large radio audience followed the live broadcast of the 40th anniversary ceremony on Radio Ville-Marie.
Regional news
The West
Activities of the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action included a first "Multifaith Music Celebration and Sacred Rhythms Concert" with participating choirs from the Baha'i, Hindu, Jewish, Unitarian faiths; a dialogue among Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Zoroastrians on "Samskaaras" or "Passages of Life". The Edmonton Interfaith Centre with the Alberta Teacher's Association authored a booklet "Safe and Caring Schools for Students of All Faiths." These booklets are available for teachers across Alberta or anyone who wishes to order from the Alberta Teacher's Association in Edmonton. The Edmonton Interfaith Centre is located at 11148-84 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 0V8, tel.: 780-413-6159, fax. 780-413-6143, e-mail: .
The Community of Emmanuel is an off-shoot of the Inner City Pastoral Ministry, a 25-year-old interdenominational faith outreach program for inner city people in Edmonton. Its congregation includes low-income residents, single moms and homeless people. "They accept you exactly where you are at that moment," a mother of two said. "Basically they treat you as Jesus would, with love and respect." The church service is always followed by a hot lunch for those who attend as well as those who only come for the meal. Over the past year, some seventy-eight church organizations and city groups have donated and prepared food for the weekly service. "The ICPM is a respectful, effective presence to inner city people," said pastoral associate, Sister Marion Garneau. She said the fact the ICPM is a "church without walls" is not only appropriate, but very much in keeping with the reality of many of those it serves. "It's not unlike the way of ministry of the Jesus of the Gospels."
"Practical Helps for Encouraging Ecumenism in your Parish" was the theme of a workshop for Parish Ecumenical representatives, Pastors and other interested persons organized by the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Regina October 25. After two sessions led by keynote speaker, Rev. Bernard de Margerie, small groups tackled the questions of "What has worked well and why?" and "What have been the major obstacles?" Ecumenical kits ($10.00) are available: c/o Susan Klein, sec. Archdiocese of Regina, 445 Broad St. N., Regina, SK., S4R 2X8, Tel.: (306) 352-1651, fax: (306) 545-0510, e-mail: .
Ontario
Habitat for Humanity, the Christian housing ministry, is building forty new homes with the help of hundreds of volunteers from churches across the city of Toronto. At Habitat's Home Building Factory, crews assemble walls, floors and frames for an entire new neighbourhood of single-family homes which will open in east Toronto next spring. Pastors and faith leaders set an example Sept. 15 to 21 as priests and ministers swung hammers and cut lumber during Habitat's "Building on Faith Week". To volunteer or get your church involved, call Deborah Bernardino at (416) 755-7353 or e-mail her at .
The 5th annual Theodore Ratisbonne Lecture Series was held at Madden Hall in Toronto, October 29, on the theme: "Living Hope & Courage in Turbulent Times". The evening event, sponsored by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, featured lively discussion with the members of an Interfaith Panel: Jessie Caryll, Mary Ellen Sheehan and Barbara Siddiqui.
Let There Be Peace on Earth: an Inter-faith Service of Prayer for Peace was held, October 16, at the Church of the Holy Trinity near the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. In the spirit of Assisi, the ecumenical office of the archdiocese of Toronto and the Franciscans organized the service with participants from various faiths that can be found in one of the world's most multicultural cities. Faiths represented at the prayer included Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Buddhism, Taoism and more, along with the Christian churches. A smudge ceremony by First Nations people was also part of the event.
Québec
The Earth and All That Is in It, a public panel on biotechnology and faith sponsored by the Canadian Council of Churches and the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism, was held October 7 in Montreal. Speakers included Devlin Kuyek, Margaret Somerville and François Pouliot with theological reflection by Paul Fayter. Among the topics discussed were: the ownership of life forms, the Supreme Court of Canada and bio-patenting, genetically modified foods, the possibilities of human cloning and harvesting of human tissues, new technologies and ethical considerations.
A Ceremony of Presentation of the Sacred Relics took place October 9-13 at the Huyen Khong Buddist Social and Cultural Centre in Montreal. The world's highest Buddhist religious authorities chose the Huyen Khong Centre for the exposition of the Relics of the Great Budda Shakyamouni and the Great Lama Masters who are venerated as saints. This relic collection will travel around the world until 2008 when it will be placed in the reliquary inside the 150 metre high statue of Buddha Maitreya in Koushinagar, India, site of the paranirvana of the Great Buddha Shakyamouni. It will be a pledge of peace for a whole millennium.
Inter-church Marriages: Today's Reality and Changes was the theme of an ecumenical dialogue held on November 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Francis of Assisi parish hall, St. Lambert. The event, organized by the Diocesan Ecumenical Committee of St. Jean, Longueuil, featured a panel representing Catholic and other Christian Churches, as well as two couples followed by an open forum for questions and sharing. For more information, call 450-679-1100 extension 277.
The First Ecumenical Family Picnic organized by The North Shore Ecumenical Committee of Churches, took place September 21 on the spacious grounds of the Terry Fox Park, D.D.O. Close to 300 people, from eighteen parishes on the West Island, responded to the invitation of the Ecumenical Committee. A total of forty-seven church members from several denominations worked on six subcommittees to provide a variety of activities from music and sing-alongs, games for young and old, and complementary refreshments for all. Indeed, this wonderful gathering of Christians seemed animated by the ecumenical spirit. Enthusiastic picnickers suggested broadening the base of operations for all the denominations to share what they have in common with each other through more unifying activities, such as an annual Ecumenical Concert and ongoing charitable work.
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