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​Genocide and the Ongoing Persecution of Rohingya Muslims

In a discussion on the ongoing genocide and persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, Bridge Initiative’s founding director Dr. Esposito speaks with Dr. Ronan Lee, author of Myanmar’s Rohingya Genocide: Identity, History and Hate Speech, and Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, founder of Justice for All, on the impact of Myanmar’s mass killing of Rohingya Muslims and how Islamophobia played a role in the criminalization and dehumanization of the community. For more information visit: https://bridge.georgetown.edu/
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75th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine with our Interfaith Friends

As the Catholic shrine, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine celebrated 75 years in Holliston, we were so pleased to have our interfaith guests with us. They included Siri Karm Singh Khalsa and Maron Tracy from the Sikh Community, Shaheen Akhtar and Burak Yüzügüldü and friends from the Muslim community. Cardinal Sean O'Malley presided over the Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, September 11, 2022.

Shia Muslims in America

A Ten-episode Documentary Series tracking the history of Shia Muslims in America from the late 1800s to the present day. Other expressions of Islam are Sunni Islam and Sufi Islam. See the other episodes here.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and its Commitment to Interfaith Dialogue and Collaboration

This video comes from the church wide assembly of the ELCA August 2022
Ten years ago today, a white nationalist entered a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin – and opened fire. Seven beloved community members were killed. It was the deadliest massacre of Sikhs on U.S. soil ever.
Too many Americans don’t remember Oak Creek. But we do. We remember the blood in the prayer hall, and the bullet holes in the langar hall. We remember the lives lost. We also remember the resilience and courage of those who rose up in the face of trauma and terror in Chardi Kala – even in darkness, ever-rising spirits.
Today we honor those who we lost: Paramjit Kaur, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Singh, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Sita Singh, Suveg Singh Khattra, and Baba Punjab Singh
Join @RevLoveProject + @SikhCoalition to take action at RememberOakCreek.org.
#RememberOakCreek

Including the Nonreligious in Interfaith Dialogue

 This panel program brought together two secular humanists, Tom Krattenmaker and Kathleen Greene, Bilal Ansari, a Muslim Chaplain, Allyson Zacharoff, then a rabbinical student, and led by Fr. Carl Chudy, a Catholic priest, in an effort to explore both secular and diverse religious voices in dialogue with one another. The secular as an interfaith dialogue space seeks the bridges between the secular and the sacred.  It took place at the International University of Hartford for Religion and Peace 2018.

Convergence of Sacred Days

​Recently we held a wonderful exchange with our dialogue partners on the convergence of sacred days in April, into May. This is the first time all of these holy days come in such close proximity and intersection in more than thirty years. What meaning can we derive from this? Some of our dialogue partners shared their holy days and what they mean in our day as we all come together.
The Internet has transformed every area of human interaction – including religion – more than any other invention in history. The new technology is disrupting traditional definitions of community, authority, beliefs, and even what it means to be human and present to one another. The Internet can be used to further divide people of different faiths and worldviews, or it can foster greater understanding – the choice is up to us. Interfaith Youth Core invites you to be part of a new generation of interfaith leaders who understand the power of the Internet, appreciate how it can be used to promote understanding across lines of difference, and are fully trained to maximize the impact of the technology for the common good. Join us by participating in our #Interfaith curriculum to strengthen your interfaith leadership online.
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Developed INTERFAITH YOUTH CORE and platformed on RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE. 

Ways We Can Help Ukraine

We come together as peoples of different faiths and secular points of view to protest, pray, and act in justice over the blatant and unjustified invasion of Russian troops into the sovereign nation of Ukraine. As we gather in prayer, we also would suggest other ways we may help the people of Ukraine. Below are a few possibilities.

Charity organizations are offering a wide range of support for those affected by the war. Here are a few that have received high marks (three to four stars) from Charity Navigator, which assesses groups’ efficiency, transparency and other factors.
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  • Donations through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Eastern Europe Crisis Response.
  • Donations the Catholic Relief Service.
  • Global Giving supports non-profits around the world through crowdfunding. Its Ukrainian crisis relief fund is working toward a goal of $7m to provide food, water, shelter and other assistance to refugees.
  • ​​Direct Relief is working to fulfill a list of medical needs provided to the organization by Ukraine’s health ministry.
  • For local media in Ukraine, you can support the English-language Kyiv Independent and the New Voice of Ukraine directly. There is also a GoFundMe page to support Ukrainian media more broadly as journalists risk their safety.
  • An array of Resources to help Ukrainian refugees, especially those who cross the Polish border.
  • ​Nova Poshta Global launches the Humanitarian Nova Poshta project — to help the Ukrainian defenders and people in need. We collect humanitarian aid from international organizations and volunteers all around the world.
  • Rabbi Jennifer Rudin sends needed supplies to a trusted independent source which regularly brings materials over the Polish border for refugees. A Ukrainian shopping list is here.
  • Download the Peace in Ukraine Dove below, designed by Russian designer Natasha Alimova. She created this icon of peace using shapes from the national symbol of Ukraine. The logo is free to use for any purpose. It can be posted on windows, reproduced on t-shirts, and many more uses.
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Here are some pics from our Candlelight Vigil for Ukraine. More resources for helping Ukraine will be posted as more efforts are organized on the ground. Let's continue our prayer, action, and advocacy.
Download below a Ukrainian prayer used during our prayer vigil and an interfaith compilation of prayers for peace.
ukraineprayer.docx
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interfaith-prayers-of-peace.pdf
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Muslim Christian Dialogue on Creation

Fascinating conversation with a diverse audience on reflections of our common Creator from a Muslim and Christian perspective. Shaheen Ahktar from the Islamic Center of Boston, Wayland, Rev. Cindy Jacobson from The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Woburn, and Fr. Carl Chudy of Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Holliston.

Statement of Support for our Jewish Neighbors after the Latest Attack on Members of the Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas

The two links above are: Metrowest Interfaith Dialogue Project and Rabbi Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel

Responding to Racist, Homophobic, and Antisemitic Incidents in the Local Public Schools

​In light of recent racist, homophobic, and antisemitic  incidences in the public schools of the town of Holliston, school and town officials, along with local religious leaders have been in dialogue about responding with opportunities for community forums in town. The Metrowest Interfaith Dialogue Project, with members deeply involved, will be publishing a statement in this regard and providing online listening sessions during the week of November 14. 
We are holding a listening session for all those who wish to share their own thoughts and prayers in light of these hateful incidences. Join us November 17, Wednesday at 7 pm. Contact us for the zoom link.

Active Bystander's Training 

The Metrowest Interfaith Dialogue Project is collaborating with The Jewish Family Services and Open Spirit Interfaith Center to offer Active Bystander's Training to faith communities and other organizations and individuals. Using the Quabbin Mediation Model, the Training Active Bystanders (TAB) program helps participants recognize when they are bystanders, analyze situations, and evaluate the consequences for everyone involved. TAB heightens bystanders’ power. It teaches how bystanders can interrupt harm-doing and generate positive actions by others. Active bystandership does not mean aggression against the harm doer. It means taking responsible action to help people in need instead of remaining passive and becoming complicit. Bystanders gain the competencies they need if they decide to take action when they witness something they feel is unfair, or wrong, or troubling.

Metrowest Interfaith Dialogue Project in the Local News

Dialogue that Crosses Faiths

Twelve members of faith organizations in MetroWest, including Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston, work on a regular basis to make their communities more inclusive. They called it the MetroWest Interfaith Dialogue Project (MIDP).
“Our hope is to the honor the religious and nonreligious diversity of our communities and neighborhoods by creating an interfaith community within communities of different faiths. We focus on three goals: Foster opportunities to come together in order to come to know one another and the faiths that inspire us; Gain insight on how much we share in common through our faiths and values; Discover how interfaith dialogue and action can make a difference in our communities and neighborhoods and helps us all flourish together,” he said.