Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, reminds us that the future can
be seen in threads visible in the present. This blog is meant to depict the
thread of interreligious efforts and dialogue so vibrant today throughout the
world and in the lives of Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, Associates, institutions, and ministries. Please share your
experiences of and hopes for interreligious efforts and dialogue by leaving a comment here. To comment, simply click on the small gray "comments" text below, and then a box will appear for you to post a comment.
We are Dominican Sisters and Associates of Sinsinawa collaborating with others to promote justice and right relationships. This blog is a mosaic reflecting ongoing local, national and global interfaith efforts to share our wisdom as we listen for the voice of God in the words of others. We can build peace among nations through peace among religions. We can help create peace among religions by building relationships and engaging in dialogue for understanding. Click on "About Us" for more info.
As part of the prison ministry I'm involved with we are having an 8-session group called Interfaith Dialogue in one of the medium security institutions. We've had two sessions so far (90 minutes each). The sharing is thoughtful and deep. Included in the circle of 26 are 4 men who identity with a pagan or wiccan tradition. And one of the volunteers is a widely-known Wiccan priestess, activist, psychotherapist. There are several Buddhists in the group as well as Muslims, a variety of Christian denominations, a guy who's Hindu and another who is Jewish.
ReplyDeleteI know I'll learn a lot. Has anyone seen the 2009 PBS video called "Beyond Our Differences"? We also hope to have a discussion on part of it.
Thank you all for the creation of this Conversation Space about the deepest core of our Selves. The abundance of Faith Traditions in our World surround us here in Madison. Daily and consciously I am learning to Respect the Other and Cherish my own.
ReplyDeleteCTU hosted the annual Shapiro Lecture this past Monday afternoon. Peter Ochs, A Jewish Scholar spoke about developments in Christian-Jewish-Muslim Religious Dialogue. Most interesting of all were his concluding comments in which he said that the Catholic Church is the key to successful dialogue because of its tradition of "lectio divina". Amazing.
ReplyDeleteHe also cited "Scriptural Reasoning" as a model for successful dialogue and referenced two websites.
www.etext.lib.virginia.edu/journals/jsforum/
and
www.interfaith .cam.ac.uk/en/sr/sr-history
Pat Mulcahey
In Madison, Maureen McDonnell, OP, Beth O'Brien and I are staff-directors for Wisdom's Well Interfaith Spirituality Center; an inviting, welcoming, gathering ministry, wherever, whenever & however folks gather in spiritual development. We are co-sponsoring, with Edgwwood's environmental club (Wood's Edge - moderator: Tim Andrews, Associate) a showing of "Journey of the Universe" during Earth Week: Tues. Apr. 24 at 6:30 PM in Anderson Aud. Margaret Sweedish from the Center for New Creation in Milwaukee will facilitate discussion. Collaboration!
ReplyDeleteLynn Lisbeth,OP LisbethOP@aol.com
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ReplyDeleteDominican Sister Interreligious Dialogue
ReplyDeleteUp in Minneapolis, I belong to a small nonprofit called Creative Spirit. For over 25 years we've been dedicated in our mission to the imaginative expression of spirituality through the arts and education. In doing so we endeavor to encourage people through our programs to transform their lives and world by cultivating social and spiritual values.
Currently we facilitate courses in SoulJournal at the local women's correctional facility; present engaging, age appropriate programs to children, youth and their parents exploring issues of maintaining personal safety in touch with peers, caregivers and other adults. We also run a summer camp for girls 9 -14 called Befriending Creation. In these and many other programs, we employ ritual, artistic expression and writings from many spiritual traditions.
We office at St. Albert the Great Parish in South Minneapolis where I went to school for 9 years with the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters back in the 1970’s. Our founder worked with Dominican Sisters at Regina High School. It’s funny how it feels like a circle completing as I read about all the good work emanating from the Mound: about Sister Marilyn’s (my fourth grade teacher) journey of transformation, about interreligious dialogue, eco-spirituality, contemplation and study. I’m just beginning to realize that perhaps you’ve rubbed off on this old fella more than I was ever aware. I feel greatly blessed and am filled with Gratitude as I reflect these thoughts.
Blessed Be,
Jamez Murck
Dear James, Thank you for your kind note. Really good to hear from former students. You do an amazing work. Yesterday I saw a clip about a woman who devotes her time and work to exploring the life-giving effects of music for disabled children. She works with the parents and with the children. What a gift the Arts are to all of us. Continued blessings on your work and blessings of Lent.
ReplyDeleteSr. Pat Mulcahey
P.S. I never taught in the cities but I lived several years with Sr. Micheas Conley who grew up at Holy Rosary. Her brother, was a Dominican priest.
Both are watching over us from heaven.