serving the faith communities of the Goulburn Valley
There are many kinds of meditation – designed to manage the mind, still the riot going on within, and this one – in particular – addresses the critical voice within which seeks to sabotage every move towards happiness. Some call this voice the ‘critical parent’. Others call this the ‘inner monster’. Whatever it is, we are able to render compassion unto our very own selves!
… Read more…
The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health invite you to their final public webinar for 2020, featuring Prof. Brett Sutton, who will be speaking on The Long View on COVID-19 – What Will 2021 Look Like?. Professor Brett Sutton is the Victorian Chief Health Officer. The seminar will be presented online, on Tuesday 1st December, 2020, form 6:30pm – 7:30pm.
… Read more…
Deepavali – often called Diwali – is an Indian festival of light, which occurs on 14 November 2020. We say “Indian Festival” for it is common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jains. It is a celebration of light over darkness, the victory of good over evil, and fostering of peace and harmony.
… Read more…
Australia Post has marked NAIDOC Week by endorsing a campaign pushing for the use of traditional place names when sending mail.
The postal service expanded its addressing guidelines online to include how to formally use a traditional place name in an address “to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land your item is being delivered on”.
“Acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, their ancestors, elders and the commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Australians is very important to us,” it said in a statement.
Shepparton Interfaith Network in collaboration with Liz Arcus Photography invites you to the ‘Prayer and Reflection’ online exhibition launch on Monday 23rd November, 7.30pm-8.15pm
… Read more…
World-renowned religious author Karen Armstrong explores the value of scripture in an increasingly secularised world and ponders whether we’ve lost our ability to engage with faith texts as spiritual tools rather than binding rules.
… Read more…
Greater Shepparton City Council and Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation today signed the Memorandum of Understanding endorsed by Council at the September Council Meeting, linking in with NAIDOC Week 2020. The document was signed in Queens Gardens, before of the statue of William Cooper.
… Read more…
The Vatican greets Hindus on the occasion of Diwali, festival of light. The occasion of Diwali is celebrated by all Hindus, and is known as Deepavali, or the “row of oil lamps”. Symbolically based on ancient mythology, it represents the victory of truth over lies, of light over darkness, of life over death, and of good over evil. The actual celebration lasts three days, marking the beginning of a new year, family reconciliation, especially between brothers and sisters, and worship of God. This year the feast will be celebrated by many Hindus on Nov. 14, 2020. Here, we share the message from the Vatican to Hindus:
… Read more…
The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health invite you to their 2020 NAIDOC Event ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ featuring a panel of speakers on Cultural Burning from 11:00 – 12:00pm Friday 13th November 2020.
… Read more…
The Australian Academy of Science celebrates NAIDOC Week with a presentation on Land, water and fire: the science of a continuous culture online, on Monday 9 November at 5:30pm. You are invited to join in as they explain how Indigenous knowledge and science of land, water and fire can inform and improve the management of the natural world.
… Read more…
NAIDOC Week is an Australian observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday. The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It has its roots in the 1938 Day of Mourning, becoming a week-long event in 1975.
Due restrictions for Coronavirus pandemic, Naidoc Week was deferred.
Due the Ring of Steel and numbers of people who can gather together – Victorian National NAIDOC Week 2020 celebrations will be held ONLINE from the 8-15 November. This will be a Virtual NAIDOC Week. This post has been updated (twice). Please click “read more” to see new events.
Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops’ Conference, has called on Catholics to engage in a “spiritual battle” against radical Islamism. The Bishop said that the last terror attack in Nice demands not only more security, but also efforts to build interreligious solidarity!
… Read more…
Violence against women (and violence in families) has multiplied during the times of lockdown with people confronted with heretofore unseen and unknowmn stresses on their income, their relationships – even their meaning and purpose. The Faith Communities Council of Victoria will assemble and expert panel to discuss – and answer your questions – during an online session on Wednesday, 25t November 2020.
… Read more…
What challenges are faith communities facing during the COVID19 pandemic, and what important role can they play in this difficult time? What is the end strategy for the COVID 19 pandemic? What is the likelihood of an ‘ethical’ vaccine and how will it be administered? Find out more at the Faith Communities Victoria online session on Sunday, 15 November 2020.
… Read more…
The Abraham Conference plays an important role in bringing Jews, Christians and Muslims together to discuss contemporary issues of concern for the members of the three religions and for the wider society.
The theme of this year’s Abraham Conference is “Interfaith on the Frontlines“. In the style of TEDx Talks, Jewish, Christian and Muslim frontline workers will share their stories of hardship and hope in uncertain times.
The 2020 Abraham Conference will be held online (using Zoom) on Sunday 15th Nov 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm AEDT. Details and links will be available in the confirmation email.
Young Lilia Tan moved to Australia from Singapore three years ago but she already understands that her school in Canberra is on Ngunnawal land.
The school’s welcome to country acknowledges its traditional owners, the Ngunnawal people, before ending with Always Was, Always Will Be, the theme of this year’s NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week.
Coinciding with NAIDOC, the Uluru Statement of the Heart’s invitation to all Australians to walk with them for a better future has been translated into 64 languages ranging from French to Arabic, Armenian, Urdu, Rohinga, Hebrew and Mandarin.
Fifty-five years ago, the Catholic church came out with a document that arguably did more not only to improve Jews’ relationships with Catholics, but also to make Jews physically safer and more at home in the world.
Nostra Aetate, which the Second Vatican Council passed by a 2,221-to-88 vote 55 years and one week ago, on October 28, 1965, redefined the church’s understanding of Jews by acknowledging, among other things, that all Jews are not responsible for the death of the Christian messiah.
Every first Sunday of the month, the burgeoning Sikh community members in Bendigo meet at the St Mary’s Anglican Church in Kangaroo Flat. It is a day when a priest from a Melbourne gurudwara comes with the holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, conducts prayers and everyone revels in the langar or meal served. However, this is a pre COVID-19 story.
… Read more…
The International March of the Living, The Miller Center for Community Protection and Resilience at Rutgers University, and the Jüdischen Gemeinde Frankfurt are pleased to present a specially produced media event – LET THERE BE LIGHT – International March of the Living Kristallnacht Commemoration. The program will air on the anniversary of Kristallnacht – The Night of Broken Glass, on November 9th at 7:00PM EST, on the Jewish Broadcasting Service.
… Read more…
Experts say community leaders are key in curbing the coronavirus pandemic in the next few months
Combatting misinformation online and helping get health messages across language and cultural barriers have been major challenges
Engaging more culturally diverse communities could be a lesson learnt to avoid future outbreaks