Multi-faith calendar online listing the major holy days & festivals for Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism and Sikhism. The calendar seeks to represent each of the religions in good faith.
Conversation at the Crossroads presents an innovative series to stimulate, inform and upskill. It combines lectures, presentations by world experts in their respective fields, Q&A, debates, role play, small conversation groups, brainstorming sessions and skilling workshops. Hosted by Professor Joseph Camilleri. (Available in person and online).
Topic for May 24th, 6-9pm:
IN CONVERSATION WITH YANIS VAROUFAKIS
on the rise of social and economic inequality – and future options
Not to be missed – this Tuesday 24 May, 6.00 pm AEST
Details and registration here
Location: University College, University of Melbourne
40 College Crescent, PARKVILLE VIC 3052
Registration and costs here.
two more sessions (new topics) on 31st May, & 7th June.
Thursday 26th May Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is a day to remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of First Nations people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities – the Stolen Generations.
It’s a day to pay tribute to their remarkable strength and resilience, and to reflect on how we can contribute to the healing process of our communities. Because sorry means you don’t do it again.
Learn more about forced removal of First Nations children
Check out events and activities in your area, or simply intentionally spend time reflecting on the experience of the Stolen Generations.
Thursday 26th May Ascension Day
The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, also called Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday, commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is one of the ecumenical feasts of Christian churches, ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of Easter, and Pentecost. Following the account of Acts 1:3 that the risen Jesus appeared for 40 days prior to his Ascension, Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day of Easter; although some Christian denominations have moved the observance to the following Sunday.
27th May – anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
On 27 May 1967, an overwhelming majority of Australian citizens voted “yes” in a national referendum to amend clauses of the Australian Constitution concerning First Nations people. Campaigners for the “yes” vote successfully argued that those references were discriminatory and excluded First Nations people from citizenship. Learn more about the 1967 Referendum.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart was delivered on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 referendum (27 May 2017). The statement calls for structural reform, including (but not only) changing the constitution. Learn more about the Uluru Statement.
Friday 27 May – Talanoa with Rev James Bhagwan
General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC)
The National Council of Churches is hosting a gathering (‘talanoa’) in person and online with Rev James Bhagwan. James is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in Fiji. He is a graduate of the Pacific Theological College (Suva) and Methodist Theological University (Seoul). His areas of advocacy are climate justice – with particular emphasis on the ocean – gender equality, self-determination ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.
Time: 11am to 1pm, Friday 27th May.
Register online at Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/BYKRP to receive the Zoom link
27th May – 3 June Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week commences on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and ends on Mabo Day.
2022 Theme: Be Brave, Make Change
The theme is a challenge to all Australians to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
It’s a time for people to reflect on reconciliation in Australia, keeping in mind that the word “reconciliation” is considered problematic by some. One of the reasons is because reconciliation means “the restoration of friendly relations”.
As Noongar woman, Claire Coleman, writes in her essay Not Even the Right Word, “When reconciling, the fight is ended, peace is restored and people regain the friendship that was lost… In reality, relations between Indigenous Australia and the colony, from Cook shooting the first person he encountered on the continent and onwards to deaths in custody just last week (at the time of writing), remain violent. There are no good relations to restore; no friendship to recover.”
The week is about non-Indigenous people taking responsibility for building stronger, more respectful relationships with First Nations community. It’s about being better allies, by recognising and centering First Nations people as the sovereign and original people of this place we call home.
Virtual breakfast, Friday 27th May, 7.30-9am
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 29 May-5 June 2022
(the week between Ascension and Pentecost)
Theme: chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship” (cf Matthew 2:2) More than ever, in these difficult times, we need a light that shines in the darkness and that light, Christians proclaim, has been manifested in Jesus Christ. Resources are available here.
(note: the VCC Faith and Order Commission revamped the World Council of Churches worship service for an Australian context).
Australian Baha’i Community National Conference
May 30&31, 2022 (in person in Sydney, and online)
Representatives of NGOs, religious and cultural communities, members of the media, academia, gender equality organisations, youth networks, think tanks, institutions and government are invited to attend the 2022 National Social Cohesion and Inclusion
The conference will begin at 6:30 pm on the 30th of May with an evening canape dinner, cultural performances and keynotes. This will be followed by a full day of presentations, panel discussions and small group consultations on the 31st of May.
The conference will explore the settings, approaches, methods and experiences that will guide our country to foster greater social cohesion and inclusion into the future. It is an opportunity for all to reflect on advances, lessons learnt and obstacles to social cohesion in Australia.
Printed copies of the Creating an Inclusive Narrative publication are available for purchase or download. It was formulated out of a project which explored complex questions around social cohesion with over 500 diverse community and institutional representatives at 50 roundtables across the country. The publication is a synthesis of the most prevalent and unifying insights, ideas and descriptions of our common humanity and the values which can move us towards strengthening social cohesion and inclusion in our country.
The online streaming will include breakout rooms.
More information and registration here.
2pm 14th June: Book Launch
Reflective Being, Being Reflective: 25 years of multi-faith perspectives on disability and spirituality in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
This book, edited by Andy Calder, Jayne Clapton and Trevor Parmenter, celebrates 25 years of the multi-faith disability and spirituality movement in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Since the inaugural conference in Brisbane, 1996, a further five have been held. Arising from the conferences, this collection explores issues of faith and meaning in the lived experience of disability. Contributors explore a range of issues including: ethics, care, friendship, discrimination, inclusion, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), love, justice, liberation and ‘cripped’ spiritualities. The book is beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated with cartoons from one conference’s resident cartoonist. The front-cover stain-glass window ‘Pathways for Change’ provokes spiritual questions relating to belonging, identity and purpose.
Venue: Wesley Place, Level 2, 130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
To be launched by Ms Meredith Allan, World President, 2018-2020 (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC). Member of Uniting Church in Australia.
and Rev Vicki Terrell, Disability Ministry Educator: Resource and Development facilitator. Anglican Church of Aotearoa,
New Zealand and Polynesia.
Welcome to Country: Uncle John Baxter, Aboriginal Partnership Coordinator, Brotherhood of St Laurence
To Register please visit here. More information here.
(Limited numbers (36) of in-person places are available. Please register by 7 June at the latest if you wish to be present)
Sunday, 19th of June 2022 (1:00-5:00)
“The Courage to Reimagine; The Challenge of the Sacred Inclusion Narrative”
Venue: The Ark Centre, 7 Cato Street, Hawthorn East, 3123
Bookings: TryBooking, $40 pp
A Modern Response to Neuro-Diversity by Ancient Traditions
In the beginning there was The Story….The Dance…The Vision.
We will gather as the storytellers, as the elders, as the clergy, as the educators, as the leaders of our diverse respective traditions. Our task will be to reflect and reimagine our foundation narratives and to emerge with a vision of how to be more reciprocally inclusive in the manner in which we engage members our communities who are on the Autism Spectrum and who have disabilities. This will be an open ended dialogue on how we can create a reciprocal inclusive templet with an eye on enriching the lives of all of those within our communities.
Special guest speakers, roundtable informal dialogue, workshops and, of course, food. Note: Double vaccinated event. Covid restrictions (at the time of event) apply.
This gathering is facilitated by The Kulanu Project of the United Jewish Education Board. If you have any questions please contact Tal Spinrad, UJEB’s Kulanu Project Manager at inclusion@ujeb.org.au or 0437569863
“It is the grand premise of sacred traditions that people can transcend themselves.”- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
ARCHIVED EVENTS here
Other dates for First Nations people here