Mother of Mercy High Gathers Teens from Four Faiths for Peace Garden

by Bob Bonnici

This year, the first Sunday afternoon in May marked the first time that teenagers representing four major religions in Cincinnati gathered together to work as one, building a butterfly garden as an example of interfaith cooperation for our common home, the earth.  The youth groups from the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Mayerson JCC, Trinity Lutheran Church of Mt. Healthy, and students from Mother of Mercy High School joined together at the Imago Nature Center for an afternoon of discussion, service, and fun. 

Although Mother of Mercy High School is entering its final year as one of our city’s educational institutions, it has strived over the years to help our city grow in interfaith relations, especially among our youth.  For several years, Mother of Mercy High has brought students on field trips to the mosque at the Islamic Center, to Seder meals at Mayerson, and to common prayer services at Trinity Lutheran.  As the students began building friendships, Mother of Mercy High School began coordinating service days at Imago to deepen their relationships with a common goal for peace: joining first with Muslim youth from the Islamic Center, then the following year including Jewish youth from Mayerson JCC, and this year the Lutheran youth from Trinity made the May 7th event our largest gathering of faith-filled teens ever! 

In planning for the interfaith service garden event, students from each faith group collaborated on a commemorative t-shirt for everyone with the word “peace” displayed in Arabic, Hebrew, and English centered around a burgeoning leafing tree.

Imago specializes in educating youth about nature so they divided the students into mixed working groups to help everyone get to know one another.  The students worked on the peace garden all afternoon and several joined the Mercy girls in planting a tree for one of their beloved classmates who recently passed away.  After the shovels and wheelbarrows were put away, everyone gathered for some of Scarlato’s delicious cheese pizza for dinner and table discussion.  This year’s theme was how each religion tries to live out the value of “compassion” in our world in light of our school’s name of Mercy.  Dalal, a Mercy freshman, said that she enjoyed these interfaith service experiences “because people there happened to be confused why not only a Muslim was at Mercy, but also why I was representing Mercy that day.”  She goes on to explain that “it is because of the wonderful community Mercy has and about the love that is exerted from everyone, not only the student body, but the staff as well.”

This gathering of youth from all four faiths was made possible by a generous grant from the Brueggeman Center and it is our hope that we can continue to gather for service once again in the fall of Mother of Mercy High’s final year.

Robert J. Bonnici

Teacher, Mother of Mercy High School

Women’s Interfaith Group Hosts Peace Festival

The Women’s Interfaith Network of Cincinnati Suburbs hosted an Interfaith Peace Festival on April 23rd. The interfaith group welcomed musicians and dancers from area faith congregations and cultural groups.  The program included singers from LDS choir, the Islamic Center, the Jewish community, Sikh devotional singers, Bhangra dance from India, Chinese dancers, Zabava dancers from Europe, Latin American dancers and several more.  The WINCS group is a diverse group of women seeking to promote learning opportunities among different cultures and religious faiths through open discussion, community service and outreach.

WINCS INTERFAITH PRAYER FOR PEACE – Compiled by Judie

Let us gather today in prayer for peace… Oooommmm shanti, shanti, shanti. Creator of the Universe, fill our hearts with peace. Give us that divine spark to make us a channel of your peace.  

For peace in our own homes, it is said that making peace between two people is more precious than prayers and fasting. Ameen

For peace between neighbors, we are told to love our neighbors as thy self.  Amen

For peace in our community, our cities and country, we are told by the prophets to welcome the stranger and to be our brother’s keeper. Shalom.

Let us know peace. For as long as the moon shall rise, for as long as the rivers shall flow, for as long as the sun shall shine, for as long as the grass shall grow, Let us know peace says our Cheyenne Natives.

For peace in our world, it is said that we are like a link, Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world. Keep our link bright and strong. Namaste.

God adjudges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear: that truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living. Know that we attaineth God when we loveth, and only that victory endures in consequences of which no one is defeated.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Om lokoh samastah sukhino bhavantu.

May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Good day, As salamu alaykum, Shalom aleikhem, Sat shri akal, Namaste

AJC Cincinnati Community Hosts Intergroup Seder

American Jewish Committee (AJC) Cincinnati has been privileged to host 24 annual Community Intergroup Seders and to share our festival of freedom with diverse groups of people from throughout our city. The AJC Community Intergroup Seder began in 1994, when 25 people from a number of ethnic and religious organizations joined with American Jewish Committee for a Passover lunch in an office building conference room.  We are proud that the breadth of our Seder has grown significantly. This year we welcomed more than 200 participants from a variety of faiths and backgrounds.

The Seder celebrates the ageless ritual of the Jewish holiday of Passover, celebrating freedom for all.  It includes the re-telling of the Passover story which begins with slavery in Egypt and ends in the deliverance of the Promised Land. It is a story of hope, aspiration, and redemption.

We know, that even today, there are individuals here at home and around the globe who still struggle to achieve freedom.  Passover is a time to reflect and recommit.  The lessons of our past, along with the realities of today bring us to a time when we must stand up and be counted, making our collective voice heard as we seek greater freedom and justice for all. 

Since its founding in 1906, AJC has worked to advance freedom, tolerance, and mutual respect.  We speak truth to power, championing human dignity, human rights, and democratic values. We do so through effective advocacy, reasoned diplomacy, vital bridge building, enlightening education, and strategic communications.

Haven House Supper Club

An amazing new program to surround our local refugee community with love and support. It is called Haven House Supper Club. The idea is to match up three families who will commit to having dinner together once a month: two local families (one of these families will be a bilingual, cross-cultural family who can act as interpreters if necessary) will be matched up with a refugee family that has been resettled in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern KY area. It is a simple, yet beautifully powerful way to provide refugee families with much need connection and community as they begin a new life here. And just as powerfully, it will provide a chance to build bridges between cultures and create true personal connections. My family has signed up and are awaiting our match. 

Here is the link for more information and to register:

https://rebelpilgrim.formstack.com/forms/supper_club_family_profile

Do you happen to know of any congregations who might be interested in an Energy Audit? It is a good thing to help congregations leverage rebates for new lights, HVAC, or other energy efficiency efforts. Ohio Interfaith Power and Light wants to help make our congregations lead the way in setting the example to others in protecting this good earth.  

In partnership with Green Energy Ohio and Ohio Interfaith Power & Light, Energy Optimizers, USA is offering a special comprehensive energy audit program to select Duke Energy customers in southern Ohio. This program provides ASHRAE Level 2 energy auditing services completed by professional and certified energy, mechanical, and electrical engineers. Take advantage of this special program to identify available energy savings opportunities and financing solutions for your faith-based, small commercial, local government, or non-profit buildings now!

For more details click on their brochure here or contact Deb Steele at Steele.deb@gmail.com.

InterfaithCincy is proud to sponsor an amazing Interfaith Breakfast event on March 10th at 8am at the Duke Energy Center.  Richard Bernstein, Justice, Michigan Supreme Court will be the keynote speaker for the event.  Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will give his thoughts on his experiences of his disability as our nation’s only blind supreme court justice.  All are welcome to share in conversation about how our different faiths play a role in serving those with disabilities.  Please join us along side with leaders and members of the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Buddhist faith traditions as we unite to support people who experience disabilities in our own communities.  

The ReelAbility Film Festival will be starting March 9th and will continue to March 12th at the Duke Energy Center.  See website for video clips.

‘In 2012, Cincinnati, Ohio was the first city to follow in New York’s footsteps by hosting a ReelAbilities Film Festival. Since then, the festival has spread to over a dozen cities in North America, and we have received more than 500 films for consideration submitted from across the globe. In 2014, the festival’s national headquarters moved to Cincinnati where it is being managed by a nonprofit, Living Arrangements for Developmentally Disabled (LADD), Inc.

The ReelAbilities NY Disabilities Film Festival

The ReelAbilities NY Disabilities Film Festival was initiated at the JCC in    Manhattan, in 2007. The festival was the first of its kind to present award- winning films by and about people with disabilities. Screenings took place at multiple venues throughout the city and they were followed by discussions that brought together the community to explore, discuss, embrace, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.’

– See more at: http://cincy.reelabilities.org/ourstory#sthash.t27FV6So.dpuf

What is Solidarity?

“Solidarity has always been more powerful that justice as human glue, for justice is abstract and rational, while solidarity is concrete and mystical.” – Peter Kreeft

In a show of solidarity, members of the local American Jewish Committee joined in prayer with parishioners at St. Leo’s Catholic Church last Sunday. The parish is comprised primarily of immigrant and refugee parishioners. As one member put it, “The United States turned away Jews who were sent home to death. We can never let this happen again.”

Sometimes we can’t fully explain what happens when we come together in solidarity. But, when it happens, there is a new unexpected space that opens up.  It is mystical, but it happens, and therefore it is concrete. Solidarity is something that is so beautiful that we can only say that it is truly divine. Solidarity is beyond what is legal and  contractual; it is relational and covenantal.  

The Things that Can destroy America: Trump’s Actions towards Immigrants & Refugees

“ The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” Theodore Roosevelt

The recent actions by President Trump and his executive order towards immigrants and refugees have sparked faith organizations to take action. No only action, but collaborative action.  Why? Because it is a part of our common faith.  As a mother and youth minister, it is my job to welcome the child who has felt isolated, left out, and need of friendship. It is my job to build a home and community.  It is my job to teach my students and my children to be that person who may have to stand up at times to defend the weak, give voice to the voiceless and to break down barriers to build a stronger community.  From the scriptures that I love, defend and teach to my youth, I find consistent and repeated passages welcoming the stranger.

”Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb 13:2)

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”  (Romans 15:7)

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”  (Matt 25:32)

 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”   (Lev 19:33-34)

As faithfilled citizens, we have a duty to our faith and our country.  We do need to be on guard those things that can destroy American as Theodore Roosevelt warned us over 100 years ago.  At what price are we trying to protect our borders, our peace and our wealth? 

From Johnathan Sacks, The Home We Build Together, “What then is society? It is where we set aside all considerations of wealth and power and value people for what they are and what they give.   It is where Jew and Christian, Muslim and Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh, can come together, bound by their commonalities, enlarged by their differences.  It is where we join in civil conversation about the kind of society we wish to create for the sake of our grandchildren not yet born.  It is where we share an overarching identity, a first language of citizenship, despite our different second languages of ethnicity or faith.  It is where strangers can become friends.  It is not a vehicle of salvation, but it is the most effective form yet devised for respectful coexistence. Society is the home we build together when we bring our several gifts to the common good.”

We all have the responsibility to build our common home and there are many ways of taking action from letter writing campaigns, Know Your Neighbor events, to establishing our churches as “sanctuaries.”  There are several organizations working together, pledging to not allow American to be destroyed.  Groups like Trilogue of Faith, AJC, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, CAIR, Christ Church Cathedral, Islamic Center of Cincinnati and many more are taking steps to build a better home for our country.

Explore the gift of quiet at the Transfiguration Spirituality Center

The Transfiguration Spirituality Center (TSC) is located in Glendale, Ohio, an easy drive from communities in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.   Identified by its guests as ‘a peaceful place’, the Center is a ministry of the Community of the Transfiguration (a religious community for women in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition).  TSC provides retreat and meeting space for groups and individuals seeking time apart from daily life for a few hours or a few days.  Our facilities are available for groups and individuals of all faiths and no faith.  We welcome all who seek peace.

For individuals or groups seeking a time to gather, reflect and grow, TSC provides:

• Attractive, private overnight accommodations in lovely surroundings

• Comfortable rooms for meeting and socializing

• Lovely grounds, including a labyrinth

• A quality dining experience

• Worship opportunities in two beautiful chapels

• Easy access from highways and free parking

• Accessibility for people with mobility issues

Offering hospitality by welcoming groups and individuals is a significant part of our ministry. We also strive to bring in retreat leaders who can invite individuals into a deeper conversation as part of a spiritual path.  In 2016 we were delighted to co-sponsor with Christ Church Cathedral, the Rev. Becca Stevens, Director of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2017 we will be sponsoring and collaborating with others for several retreats:

• February 3-5  The Rev. Jane Vennard will lead a retreat on spiritual practices, “Spiritual Practices to Nuture your Soul”

• February 6-10 & 10-12 Retreats based on the work of Brene Brown, led by the Rev. Mary Laymon, certified facilitator in Brown’s ‘Daring Way’ and ‘Rising Strong’ workshops

• April 13-16 An opportunity to share three of the holiest days in the Christian calendar in community

• May 19-21 Retreat led by Kathleen Dowling Singh “The Grace in Living”

• September 29-October 1 The Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts-Schori will lead a retreat reflecting on “Creation and Climate: Just Living or Living Justly?”

• Quarterly mid-week self-directed quiet days for individuals to come for a time away from their daily routine.  

In addition to the Transfiguration Spirituality Center, the grounds are home to Bethany School and the Convent for the Community of the Transfiguration. Please come for a visit. Arrangements can be made through email at ctretreats@gmail.com or by phone at 513.771.2171. Learn more and subscribe to our e-newletter at ctretreats.org.

An Ignatian Journey to the Holy Land: Historical Cultural and Interfaith Perspectives

All from the Greater Cincinnati community are very welcome to participate in a wonderful study abroad opportunity sponsored by Xavier University, “An Ignatian Journey to the Holy Land: Historical, Cultural and Interfaith Perspectives.” The travel dates are May 15-29, 2017. The trip will be led by Dr. Sarah Melcher, Dr. Kristine Suna-Koro, and Dr. Patricia Tull.  Join alumni and friends of Xavier University in exploring the complex history of the region, the growth of the three monotheistic faiths side by side, and the impact of religion in the land. Please see the attached flyer and itinerary. Questions, please contact Sarah Melcher, melcher@xavier.edu. You may register at the following link:   http://www.xavier.edu/study-abroad/Alumni-Friends-Programs.cfm