Y4U Interfaith Encounter with German Youths of the Archdiocese of Hamburg

On August 22nd (Saturday) about 25 German youths and representatives from the Archdiocese of Hamburg-- along with their Filipino hosts from the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) youth desk-- visited The Peacemakers' Circle (PCFI) office and had an interfaith encounter with 11 members of the Y4U (Youth for Unity) circle.

Starting off with interfaith prayers from representatives of different faiths, the session began with PCFI vice president and URI-SEAP regional coordinator, Shakun Vaswani, welcoming the young visitors to the intimate space and giving an introduction to PCFI and URI interfaith peacebuilding work. The PCFI documentary DVD was then shown to give them further orientation and exposure to the work of interfaith cooperation and relationship building in the local grassroots communities.

Y4U members Sharon, Trishna, and Rishi (Hindus), along with Lea (Catholic), Kenta (Shumei), Orlan (Indigenous/Folk Spirituality), Alan, Alih, Norodin and Salma (Muslims) then facilitated the interaction and small group discussions among the youths as they shared on their insights and impressions from the video they saw. The lively conversations and sharing between the all-Catholic German visitors and the interfaith local youths went on throughout the warm afternoon as they compared situations of peace and interfaith relations in their respective locations.

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Peacemakers participate in Mindanao Peoples' Peace Agenda consultation meeting

On August 20th (Thursday) the Mindanao Solidarity Network (MSN) & the Mindanao Peaceweavers network conducted a consultation meeting among Metro Manila-based peace advocates at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani monument. Around 40 representatives from different NGO's, academe, and community organizations participated. Among these groups are: GZO Peace Institute (MSN Secretariat), Generation Peace Youth Network, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Binhi ng Kapayapaan, Inc., Miriam College Center for Peace Education, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Pax Christi, Pilipinong Taguri ng Kadakilaan (PITAK), Koalisyon ng mga Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI), Phil. Center for Islam & Democracy, Anak Mindanao Network (AMIN), Asia America Initiatives (AAI), and many others.

The Peacemakers' Circle were among the groups that brought a large contingent of participants -- bringing to the event representatives from its four Muslim-Christian grassroots communities of Tala (Caloocan City), Culiat (Quezon City), Quiapo (Manila), and Maharlika (Taguig City).

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Peacemakers Circle Launches Visits to Sacred Sites and Festival Celebrations for Peace month

The Peacemakers Circle is hosting a series of visits and faith observances together with partner religious organizations and groups leading up to September 21 as part of its cause to promote peace through interfaith dialogue and understanding.

To launch this project, members celebrated Krishna Janmashtami with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) last Friday, August 14.

Janmashtami is the feast of the Birth of Sri Krishna, one of the most famous Gods of Hindu religion.

A group from the Peacemakers’ Circle composed of Christians, Muslims, and Multi-Faith practitioners joined the International Society of Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON at Bunyo st, Makati in celebrating Janmashtami last April 14. ISKCON is part of the Vaisnava Hindu sect that is devoted to Bhakti or devotional yoga to Krishna.

Legend has it that Sri Krishna was born over 5,227 years ago on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and end atrocities of his maternal uncle, Kansa. Bhagwan Krishna was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) in the month of Sravana or Savana (August-September according to the Christian Calendar). Krishna’s story is depicted in the Srimad Bhagavatam and the well – loved Bhagavad Gita, one of the books from the epic Mahabharata.

Janmashthami celebrations are conducted during a 48 - hour period and includes fasting, singing of the glories of Krishna, reading from the Srimad Bhagvatam, and a staging of dramas and dances depicting the life and pastimes of Krishna..

During the ceremonies, the Krishna deity is bathed with Panchamrit (a mixture of milk, ghee, oil, honey and Gangajal) several times during the day. The Panchamrit is later distributed as Prasad to the devotees along with other sweets.

The celebration reaches its peak at midnight, with the birth of Lord Krishna, with lots of hymns and aarti (light and candle offerings) taking place with the blowing of the Conch (shankh), and rocking the cradle of the Lord’s deity.

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*Contact the Peacemakers Circle for the schedules of visits to sacred sites and lectures of other religions or faith groups for the month of August and September through 920-7622 or email peacemakerscircle_ uri@yahoo. com

Program for the Month of Peace 2009

Calendar of Events

a. Aug. 14th (Fri), 7pm-1am – Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage (Sacred Site Visit) to Sri Radha Madhava Center (Makati City) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)/Hare Krishna for the Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebration

b. Aug. 22nd (Sat), 2-5pm – Youth for Unity (Y4U) interfaith encounter with youths of the Archdiocese of Hamburg c/o the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences @The Peacemakers’ Circle Office

c. Aug. 29th (Sat) 6-8pm – Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage (Sacred Site Visit) to the Phil. Tibetan Nyingma Palyul Buddhist Center (700 Pinya Ave., Sta. Mesa, Manila) for the Hundred Deities Puja/Ceremony


d. Sept. 1st (Tue), 7am-12nn – Interfaith Prayers participation in the launching programOffice of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) @ Quezon Memorial Circle Peace Bell, QC

e. for the Peace-consciousness month of September by the Sept. 2nd (Wed), 5pm – Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage (Sacred Site Visit) to the Manila Sikh Gurudwara/temple (UN Ave., Paco, Manila)


f. Sept. 3rd (Thu), 7pm-9pm - participation in Brahma Kumaris talk on "The Silence of the Mind" by BK Jayanti @ Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City


g. Sept. 8th (Tue), 6:30pm-8pm – Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage (Sacred Site Visit) to Our Lady of Pentecost Catholic Parish (C. Salvador cor. F. Dela Rosa Sts., Varsity Hills, Loyola Heights, QC) for Feast of St. Mary


h. Sept. 15th (Tue), 9am-12nn – Talk on Freedom of Religion, Apostasy & Islam by Prof. Abdullah Saeed of Australia (in cooperation with the Australian Embassy) at Balay Kalinaw, University of the Philippines Diliman Campus, Quezon City.

i. Sept. 19th (Sat), 9am-9pm – Interfaith Prayers participation in DIWANG ILOG PASIG: DALOY, BUHAY AT PAG-IBIG spirituality & arts gathering for reviving Pasig River @ Makati Riverside Park, West Rembo c/o IAM, Inc. & partners

j. Sept. 21st (Mon), 9am-12nn – PEACE ONE DAY (International Day of Peace 2009) celebration with GZO Generation Peace youth network & peace partners @Quezon Memorial Circle, QC

k. Sept. 22nd (Tue), 6pm- 10pm – Interfaith Peace Pilgrimage (Sacred Site Visit) to the Hindu Temple (Paco, Manila) for Navratri Festival

l. Sept. 26th (Sat), 6pm - 27th (Sun), 7am – Interfaith Prayers participation in EARTH DANCE Global 2009 @ La Mesa Eco Park, Fairview, QC