January Action Alert: World Interfaith Harmony Week

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The initiative was sponsored by HM King Abdullah II of Jordan who states that World Interfaith Harmony Week is “not a call to water down one’s faith, but rather it’s a call to respect our differences and personal beliefs and to unite around the basic principles that people of all beliefs agree upon and to understand that harmony can only come if we build upon a solid foundation of dialogue that has “Love of God and love of the neighbor or, love of Good and love of the neighbor” as its core principle for engagement”.

The official UN document (A/65/PV.34): Reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace; Proclaims the first week of February of every year the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs; Encourages all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, based on love of God and love of one’s neighbor or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbor, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions; Requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed of the implementation of the present resolution.

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What Can You Do? Write a personal email or letter of support for this initiative and post it at www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com at the appropriate place. Organize an event at your Motherhouse or in your parish on the first week of February to celebrate Interfaith Harmony Week.

Consult the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations website ( www.unaoc.org ) to find inspiration to develop your own project for the 2011 World Interfaith Harmony Week. Join with others around the world during the week and host an interfaith meal at your parish or in your home.

Bring together those of different faiths to share prayers, meditations, chants, intentions or music from different spiritual traditions. The goal of this program is to recognize and to create greater understanding and cooperation between those practicing the many different forms of human faith around the world. Take the time to inform yourself about the beliefs of another religious tradition. Visit a worship center of another religious tradition.

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More resources and ideas on how to celebrate the day can be found at: www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com ; the United Religions Initiative is also preparing a toolkit to share ideas and resources on their website www.uri.org .

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