Religions and their Festivals at Easter

new-coexistEaster is a sacred season of Christianity. At the time of Easter, there are religious festivals in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism, to name a few. Jains observe the birthday of Mahavir; East Asian Buddhists observe the birthday of Quan Yin. There is the Passover of the Jewish Faith and the Sikhs recall the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, who compiled the Guru Granth Sahib. These are among the religious festivals celebrated at this time.
Read more…

Loading

Shepparton: Cultural Diversity Week 2018

Cultural Diversity Week is Victoria’s largest multicultural celebration, featuring a week-long program of festivals and events in metropolitan and regional areas. In Greater Shepparton, there were many events marking Cultural Diversity Week, 17-25 March, 2018.

Read more…

Loading

Harmony Day Lecture: Mateship in Australia

I have been asked to speak today about Mateship and its relevance to Australian culture and social cohesion. I begin by acknowledging the First Peoples of Australia and in particular the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang people on whose land we now live. Lets pray that they be welcomed and deeply respected within the Australian nation. May their elders be blessed and honoured. May we also pray that this sacred land truly inspire us to come together as a tolerant, multicultural, multi-faith, secular community in which all of us are considered to be mates – Aborigines, women, migrants, our families and our descendants from all around the globe.

Read more…

Loading

Harmony Day – Unity in Diversity

Harmony Day was celebrated by St Brendan’s Parish on Sunday 18 March. During the 11:00 service of Divine Worship (Mass), the video produced by Notre Dame students was launched. Fr. Joe Taylor advised the congregation, “Instead of the sermon, we will have the video”. Harmony day continued with an observance in the hall behind St Brendan’s Church.

Read more…

Loading

Cemeteries and Crematoria: Reflections on a Survey


Representatives for the Department of Health conducted a community consultation in Mooroopna on Wednesday 14 March in order to elicit the communities need for future development of cemeteries and crematoria in the Goulburn Valley. A wide ranging discussion ensued.

Read more…

Loading

Meditation – what it cannot do.

Many Westerners, when they come to dharma practice, come looking for psychological healing — but this is not what meditation was designed to do. As meditation has become mainstream, it has been marketed as a way to address physical and emotional ailments as well as a way to improve performance at work, reduce stress, and rewire the brain.

Read more…

Loading

Cultural Diversity Week 2018: The Challenges of Settlement


In collaboration with the Adult Migrant Education Program at GOTAFE, Shepparton Interfaith Network will present the “Challenges of Settlement” seminar as part of Cultural Diversity Week 2018. Cultural Diversity Week is Victoria’s largest multicultural celebration, featuring a week-long program of festivals and events in metropolitan and regional areas.

Read more…

Loading

Harmony Day at St Brendan’s Catholic Church



St Brendan’s Parish in collaboration with Notre Dame College and the Shepparton Interfaith Network will celebrate Harmony day in the 11:00 Mass with the showing of the Unity in Diversity video. There will be further activities at the Mgr Peter Jeffrey Hall after the service on Sunday 18 March 2018.

Read more…

Loading

Shepparton: Screening of Freedom Stories

Freedom Stories is a collaborative documentary project from Flying Carpet Films. It explores the achievements and stories of former ‘boat people’ who arrived in Australian waters seeking asylum from the Middle East around 2001, a defining year in Australian politics. Locked in remote detention centres and then placed on temporary protection visas, their limbo lasted for years. Now Australian citizens, they are finally building secure lives and contributing to their new country.

The Satellite Rotary Club of Mooroopna Kialla presents the documentary film – ‘Freedom Stories’ on Wednesday March 21st 6.30pm at Harder Auditorium (GoTafe). You are invited to stay for a Q&A session with the director Steve Thomas and a light supper after the film.

Read more…

Loading

Bendigo: Annual Interfaith Forum and Dinner



As part of the 2018 Bendigo Zinda Festival, Bendigo Interfaith Council will hold a Forum and Dinner at the All Seasons Conservatory on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Guest speaker will be Helen Heath OAM, of the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong.

Read more…

Loading