We encourage you to copy this information and distribute it freely in any media.
Perhaps print these in your church bulletin, or distribute them by email to your
congregation, study group, or ministerial. Questions about these events should be directed
to the sponsoring organisations.
January
- Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (International dates: January
18-25 annually)
Canadian dates: Eight days beginning and ending with the two Sundays between which January
25 falls.
International resource material is developed by a joint committee of the World Council of
Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The material is
distributed to national working groups who modify the material to reflect the regional,
cultural, and linguistic context.
In Canada, observances are organised by the Canadian Council of Churches, regional
ecumenical bodies, and local ministerials. Canadian resources
are developed jointly by the Canadian Council of Churches and the Canadian Centre for
Ecumenism. The material is distributed by Novalis.
In the U.S., the Week of Prayer material is developed and distributed by the Graymoor
Ecumenical and Inter-religious Institute in New York.
March
- World Day of Prayer (1st Friday of March, annually)
In Canada, organised by the Women's
Inter-church Council of Canada and local women's groups.
Although this occasion was originally known as the World Women's Day of Prayer, it is no
longer focussed directly on women, thus the change in name. Both men and women are
encouraged to actively participate in this day of prayer. Although 2 p.m. is a traditional
time for World Day of Prayer observances, many years the observances are also held at
other times.
April
- Earth Day (April 22)
Earth Day is observed around the world by numerous groups concerned with the environment.
Many religious groups have taken an active involvement in local community organisations
planning Earth Day observances. Contact your local churches or environmental agencies for
further information.
- Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Memorial)
This annual event is an important occasion in the calendar of the Jewish community. In
many places, Christian and other local religious groups, join their Jewish neighbours in
remembering the horrors of the Nazi extermination camps and other times of violence
motivated by racial hatred. Check with your local synagogue, B'nai Brith, or
Christian/Jewish dialogue for details on local observances.
May
- Canadian Summer Ecumenical Institute (SEI)
This 3-5 day annual program of ecumenical education and networking is an opportunity for
training and continuing education in the area of current ecumenical events, documents,
dialogues, and projects both international and local. Each year there will be a component
of formation for those newly arrived in ecumenism, a component of networking and sharing
news and views from across Canada, and a component of continuing education. It will be
hosted by various centres across the Prairies, in liaison with the Prairie Centre for
Ecumenism.
- National Workshop on Christian Unity (USA)
This conference brings together the national networks of ecumenical officers from the
Episcopal, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic churches along with networks of ecumenical leaders
from the other major US churches. The conference is held in various parts of the
US. Participation in this conference is open to all.
June - August (dates flexible)
- Association of Inter-Church Families / Foyers Mixtes / Konfessionsverbindende Familien
Swanwick, England: August Bank Holiday
Italian / French / Swiss meeting: July
Western Canada: July or August
For further info:
www.interchurchfamilies.org
- Bossey Ecumenical Institute Seminars
World Council of Churches, Céligny (Geneva), Switzerland
www.wcc-coe.org/Bossey
Contact:
- Centro Pro Unione
Annual Summer Course, Rome, Italy, late June to mid-July
www.prounione.urbe.it/att-act/e_sum-course_rome.html
Contact: Fr. James Puglisi at
- Ecumenical Institute of New England
Massachusetts Council of Churches, ph: 617-523-2771, fax: 617-523-1483, email:
- Institute for Interreligious Leadership
Co-sponsored by USCCB's Bishops' Committee for
Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (BCEIA) and the National Association of
Diocesan Ecumenical Officers (NADEO)
Contact: John Borelli at . Registration limited to diocesan staff and
other Catholics who participate in interreligious relations and dialogue.
- International Ecumenical Seminar
Co-sponsored by the Institute for Ecumenical Research and the Lutheran World Federation,
Strasbourg, France
Contact: Elke Leypold or Ola Tjrhom at
- Summer Ecumenical Institute of Assumption College
Worcester, Massachusetts
September
- North American Academy of Ecumenists
annual conference.
Held in a variety of locations across North America, this conference is open to members of
the Academy as well as others who may be interested. The conference is academic in focus,
and generally deals with issues related to "Faith and Order" and the bilateral
dialogues. The conference is held on the fourth weekend of September each year. It is held
in Canada approximately every fifth year. NAAE membership is not required to attend the
conference, but is encouraged. Academy members also receive a subscription to the Journal
of Ecumenical Studies as part of their membership.
- International Day of Prayer for Peace (September 21)
In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a
resolution designating September 21st of each year as an International Day of Peace. The
intention of the resolution is to have the entire world observe a day of peace and
non-violence. All peoples and organisations are invited to commemorate the day in an
appropriate manner.
In 2004 for the first time, the WCC Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) joined the
United Nations International Day of Peace by inviting congregations world-wide to pray for
peace on or around that day. This initiative, which was welcomed by the UN
secretary-general Kofi Annan, is one way to combine the strength and witness of churches
and faith communities with the international community as a whole as they strive together
to promote peace and justice in the world. More information on the WCC-DOV International
Day of Prayer for Peace is available at: www.overcomingviolence.org.
October
- National Workshop on
Christian-Jewish Relations
An annual conference held in the USA, the NWCJR is open to anyone interested in the theme.
Contact your local inter-faith organisations for further details about the coming
conference. Dr.
Eugene J. Fisher chairs the national Planning Committee for the Workshop. Contact him
at the Secretariat for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs, National Conference of
Catholic Bishops, 3211 - 4 St. N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194. Tel.: 202-541-3020. Email:
.
November
- International Day of Prayer for the
Persecuted Church (IDOP)
Daily in upwards of 60 countries Christians face potential arrest, torture and even death
simply because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The World Evangelical Fellowship, global
sponsor of the IDOP, estimates that 200 million Christians face persecution for their
faith right now. Christians across Canada and in more than 130 countries will pray for
those who are persecuted for their faith. For further information, see the Canadian
website at www.idop.ca or contact the
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham,
director, (613) 233-9868, fax (613) 233-0301, .
-
Restorative
Justice Week (3rd week of November)
Restorative Justice Week, normally the third week of November, began in England in 1975 as "Prisoners' Sunday," a day set aside each year to promote awareness of the needs of and concern for men and women who are incarcerated. Eventually the day evolved into Prisoners' Week; then in 1996 it was renamed Restorative Justice Week to reflect the week's more inclusive elements. Resource development for Restorative Justice Week is the collaborative effort of Correctional Service of Canada Chaplaincy and Restorative Justice staff, the Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada as well as that of individuals and community & faith groups involved in Restorative Justice initiatives.
The Chaplaincy Services & Restorative Justice Branch of Corrections Canada welcomes input from local churches and faith groups. Resources prepared by various faith traditions are available online. See
www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/faith/index_e.shtml. Contact your local
federal penitentiary chaplaincy team or
www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/leadership_community_e.shtml for further details or see the
Corrections Canada Restorative Justice website.
People or organisations who would like to be added to an electronic list for future updates may write to
.
-
Semaine de la justice réparatrice (la troisième semaine de novembre)
La Semaine de la justice réparatrice, ordinairement la troisième semaine de novembre a débuté en Angleterre en 1975 sous le nom du Dimanche des prisonniers, une journée qui avait pour but de faire connaître les besoins des personnes incarcérées et de faire grandir un souci à leur égard. Éventuellement la journée était devenue la Semaine des prisonniers; en 1996 la semaine fut renommée Semaine de la justice réparatrice afin de mieux refléter les éléments plus inclusifs de la semaine.
La préparation des ressources pour la Semaine de la justice réparatrice découle d'une collaboration entre les membres du personnel de la direction de l'aumônerie et la justice réparatrice du Service correctionnel du Canada, le Comité interconfessionnel de l'Aumônerie dans les services correctionnels, ainsi que celle des individus et groupes communautaires et confessionnels qui participent aux initiatives de la justice réparatrice.
La direction des services de l'aumônerie et de la justice réparatrice est heureuse de recevoir des textes des églises et groupes religieux. Ces ressources préparées par diverses confessions sont accessibles en ligne.
Voir www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/faith/index_f.shtml.
Pour de plus amples renseignements contacter les aumôniers des établissements correctionnels près de vous ou voir
www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/prgrm/chap/leadership_community_f.shtml ainsi que le site de la Justice réparatrice du Service correctionnel du Canada.
Les personnes ou organismes qui aimeraient faire partie d'une liste informatique pour une mise à jour sont priés de contacter
.
December
- December 6 Memorial
A memorial of the massacre at Ecôle Polytechnique in Montréal, where 14 women were
murdered. This memorial has come to symbolise the efforts to eradicate domestic violence
and all other violence motivated by gender. It is an annual opportunity to take stock of
our efforts and successes in this essential task.
Planned by local church, university and women's groups across Canada.