serving the faith communities of the Goulburn Valley
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The word diversity and its close relatives, inclusion and equality, are positive by most objective standards and dictionaries.
Yet when they fall on certain ears, these words can raise hackles and bring out hives. And it’s interesting to ask, why is that? Why wouldn’t someone subscribe to the great Australian maxim of a fair go for all? How can they see the words diversity and inclusion then register something negative lurking in their semantics?
Muslims make up less than three per cent of the Australian population*, yet dominate the news headlines and are often misunderstood. 10 Australian Muslims live together for eight days in social experiment, Muslims Like Us, will be aired on SBS on Demand over two nights—8.30pm, February 21 & 22.
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Ten years ago, on 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Rudd formally apologised to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly those whose lives had been blighted by the practice of forced child removal. Shepparton Regional Reconciliation Group invites you to join in the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the National Apology on the morning of Tuesday, 13 February, 2018 at Queens Gardens, Shepparton.
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Christian Brothers Oceania Province in partnership with Vicki Clark (Yingadi Inc.), invite you to experience and explore Aboriginal spirituality and connection to land by walking with Mutthi Mutthi woman Vicki Clark in the footsteps of her ancestors at Lake Mungo and Balranald.
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Chinese New Year in 2018 commences on Friday, the 16th of February (16/2/2018). According to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, the Chinese year beginning in 2018 is the year of the Dog. Chinese New Year’s Day varies each year due calculations based on a lunar calendar. Preparations for the New Year commence one month before.
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Shepparton Uniting Church will celebrate the opening of its new Worship Building on Sunday, 4 February 2018. The opening worship will begin at the church on the corner of Corio St and Fryers St, Shepparton, at 4 pm, followed by light refreshments at 6 pm.
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Meditation practice awakens our trust that the wisdom and compassion that we need are already within us. The Buddhist Association of the Goulburn Valley invite you to a free Buddhist Meditation at the Senior Citizens Centre, Shepparton, on Saturday, 3 February.
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The Ballarat Interfaith Network in collaboration with the City of Ballarat will invite you to participate in their observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week on Monday, 5 February, 2018.
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The Bendigo Interfaith Council will observe World Interfaith Harmony Week 2018 with Tranquility Zone at Bendigo Library on Saturday 3 February 2018.
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Professor Andrew Markus of Monash University – author of the annual Scanlon Foundation social cohesion reports – will present key findings from the latest national survey at a public presentation in Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday, 30 January 2018.
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(RNS) — In early 2017, a series on CNN hosted by author and religion scholar Reza Aslan was dropped after six episodes following a controversial anti-Trump tweet by the host. But while “Believer” was still on the air, it was criticised for perpetuating stereotypes and overlooking important scholarship on the subjects it portrayed. Since then, another educational series on religion has skated largely under the radar of scholars.
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Interfaith dialogue should be relevant to the context of religious plurality that characterises today’s world. It should address the problems, conflicts, and tensions that threaten the harmonious and peaceful coexistence, in an effort to prevent the exploitation of religious sentiments in exacerbating division. In this wise, there are many practical activities which may be taken up as a fruit of interfaith dialogue.
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Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902 C.E.) was a Hindu monk and a patriotic saint of India. According to English calendar he was born on 12th January 1863 into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta. However his birthday is celebrated according to Hindu calendar and this day is known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. The Indian government has decided to observe Swami Vivekananda’s Gregorian date of birth as National Youth Day. Hence National Youth Day of India is celebrated each year on 12th January since 1985.
Vivekananda was born on Krishna Paksha Saptami after seven days of Paush Purnima. The birth anniversary according to Indian Panchang for 2018 is 8 January. In 1893 Swami Vivekananda went to the United States to join the Parliament of the World’s Religions where he got overwhelming success and public attention. For next four years, from 1893 to 1897, he travelled through various cities of the United States and England, and gave a series of lectures on religion and Vedanta. He came back to India in 1897 via Colombo. He then gave 17 lectures, Lectures from Colombo to Almora. In honour of Swami Vivekananda, we bring you the first lecture, given at Colombo, January 16, 1897.
The Divine is known to be spirit, beyond human form and comprehension. Yet, in many cultures the divine takes birth, lives a life, gives a teaching, crushes evil and leaves a path for the human to tread to the goal of life. In Hinduism, there are many, many names and forms of the divine, all with particular significance. These idols of the Divine bring forth so many graces, protections, ways and means of spiritual progress for aspirants.
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Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666. His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru’s birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar. In January o f2018, there is not any observance of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti.
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“It’s important that, as we begin the New Year, look forward,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a New Year’s day address. “We should project our intention ahead, so that we make this year a meaningful one
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Religious organisations, hospitals, disability services and camps are now covered by Victoria’s Reportable Conduct Scheme. This scheme also applies to Special Religious Instruction (SRI)
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The Shepparton Interfaith Network observes Christmas and welcomes the giving of compassion to the needy in this region. In this message, we reflect on the many divine incarnations that have come to serve as guide-posts for humanity. We also look to celebrations and observances in the different religions at this time.
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A small number joined the members of the Shepparton Interfaith Network on evening of Friday 22 December to offer prayers and blessings for those for whom Christmas is not the traditionally happy event.
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Goulburn Valley Hospice Care is continuing its Christmas Trees of Remembrance Project with Christmas trees located in Shepparton and Mooroopna Libraries, the foyer at the Eastbank centre and the Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Opportunity Shop.
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