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AIS EVENTS 2008 |
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JANUARY 2008 |
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WOMEN'S INTERFAITH DINNER On Wednesday 23 January, the AIS Ladies’ Network held its 2nd annual Women’s Interfaith Dinner. The program included an opening speech by Leonie Christopherson from the National Council of Women, and a panel of speeches around the theme: Cultural diversity - Challenges Facing Us as Women. Speakers included: Christian speaker: Reverend Jean Penman, Jewish speaker: Melanie Landau and Muslim speaker: Fulya Celik. |
| FEBRUARY 2008 | |
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NATIONAL SOCIAL COHESION National Social Cohesion conference was held at Melbourne University on the 24 February 2008 . The topic of the seminar aimed to assist the Muslims of Australia to gain from the experiences of the Jewish community in how they achieved and struggled against the difficult climate of integration in Australia and acceptance by the wider Australian community. As with all interfaith events, AIS envisaged this seminar to stay away from sensitive geo-political issues maintaining sensitivities to the feelings of all Australian Jews and Muslims. Date: 24 February 2008 Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Venue: Medical Wright Theatre - Melbourne University Flyer / Gallery |
| FEBRUARY 2008 | |
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MIRYAM MEAL Muslims and Catholics united around the personality of Virgin Mary at the first Miryam Meal held by the Australian Intercultural Society and St Paul Apostle Catholic Community Ecumenical & Interfaith Committee last night. This project is a product of the historic agreement between the Australian Intercultural Society and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. Covering the theme ‘Importance of Dialogue in Our Faith’ Dr Salih Yucel, Lecturer at Monash University and Father John Pearce, Parish Priest, spoke on the pertinence of dialogue for human beings. Date: 29 February 2008 |
| MARCH 2008 | |
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YOUNG CATHOLIC AND MUSLIM EXPERIENCE Catholic and Muslim youth gathered in Melbourne last weekend to exchange notes on issues affecting young people in Australia today. Organised by the Australian Intercultural Society, the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and Selimiye Youth, the event allowed youth a forum through which to discuss the issues concerning them, addressing the theme “Living our faith in contemporary society”. This event is one of the many projects that fall under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Australian Intercultural Society and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. More... Date: 12 March 2008 Gallery |
| MARCH 2008 | |
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COMMEMORATION OF THE NOBLE BIRTH Muslims and Catholic Melbournians came together on Saturday night to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Pledging their Intentions before an audience of 150 people, representatives from the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Australian Intercultural Society confirmed the sacredness of each other’s traditions. “We have heard the Word of God speaking to us in our sacred scriptures,” stated Father John Dupuche, Chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee. Held in the Diocesan Office, the Cardinal Knox Centre on Saturday 15 March, Catholic and Muslim explored the theme of the ‘Servanthood and Submission of Jesus and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’. Date: 15 March 2008 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Venue: Cardinal Knox Centre Lecture Theatre View Flyer / More / Gallery / Prof Albayrak / David Shutz |
| MARCH 2008 | |
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INTERFAITH EASTER VISITS Melbournian Muslims attended Easter mass in Anglican and Catholic cathedrals and churches on Easter Sunday as part of the Australian Intercultural Society’s annual Easter Visits. Participating in groups of about 15-20 people, individuals visited St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral in Melbourne as well as St Paul Apostle Catholic Church in Endeavour Hills, Stella Maris Catholic Church in Beaumaris and Holy Trinity Anglican Church, in Williamstown. The presence of the Muslims was officially acknowledged during the mass as they were welcomed into the churches and cathedrals. |
| MARCH 2008 | |
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SUNSHINE MOSQUE Melbournians were encouraged to take the opportunity to learn about Islam and the particulars of a mosque when Sunshine Mosque opened its doors to the public on Sunday the 30th of March 2008. Mosque Open Day is part of AIS's interfaith visits to the place of worship project which aims to breakdown barriers between different faiths through information and interaction. |
| APRIL 2008 | |
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GLIMPSES OF
TURKEY part I - II - III
This annual event of the Australian Intercultural Society brought together past
tour participants to talk about their
experiences of AIS's
Intercultural Study Tours to
Turkey. The program was
significantly informative especially for those who are attending the
scheduled study tours this year
or in the future and for those
with in an interest in the
region.
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| APRIL 2008 | |
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INTERCULTURAL
STUDY TOUR The Intercultural Study Tour to Turkey is a part of AIS's international Dialogue Project that has been continuing for the past three years. This year, the AIS would like to invite those who are interested in the project to join the 4th Annual Intercultural Study Tour to Turkey during one of the following periods:
Date:
21 April - 25 June 2008 - 6
October 2008
Destination:
Turkey
More Info / Gallery 2008 / Feedback / Watch Video of Previous Tour |
| MAY 2008 | |
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FELLOWSHIP
GATHERING
Theologians, Religious Studies
teachers, Imams and Priests came together at AIS head office on
13 May 2008 to discuss spirituality, morals, ethics and future
projects regarding Interfaith activities and education. The event is
part of the 3 year MOU signed between the Australian Intercultural
Society and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission of the Catholic
Archdiocese. |
| JULY 2008 | |
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WORLD YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS Interfaith Youth Pilgrimage - 12 July 2008
The Ecumenical and Interfaith
Commission of Melbourne
organized the Interfaith Youth
Pilgrimage on Sunday at
Federation Square in Melbourne.
The event was part of the Days
in the Diocese program. There
were many enthusiastic
participants, including youth
from Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai,
Muslim, Jewish, other Christian,
Indigenous, Brahma Kamari,
Sathya Sai, and Sikh
communities. The event was a
commitment to unity,
forgiveness, reconciliation and
love for one another for the
sake of peace on behalf of the
youth of the different faiths.
Cardinal Rodriguez was excellent
as the main speaker of the
event. The pilgrims really got
into the spirit of the thing and
added joy and life to the event. |
| JULY 2008 | |
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MOSQUE OPEN DAY
AIS and the Bosnian Islamic
Society invited Melbournians to
take the opportunity to
understand Islam through direct
encounter with a Mosque and an
information session designed to
clarify many issues including
certain misconceptions regarding
Islam. The Mosque Open Day event
was organized in a way that
during the second half of the
program, visitors were split
into smaller groups in which
they got the
opportunity to ask questions. |
| AUGUST 2008 | |
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MUSLIM -
CATHOLIC CONVERSATION As part of the MOU between the AIS and CIC, Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese a Conversation was held between Muslims and Catholics on the theme of 'Sacrifice of Abraham' . The Speakers were Fr John Dupuche, CIC and Prof Ismail Albayrak who holds the Fethullah Chair in the Study of Islam and Muslim-Catholic relations.
Date: 09 August 2008 |
| SEPTEMBER 2008 | |
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INTERCULTURAL IFTAR DINNERS
2008 Each year during the holy period of Ramadan, the AIS organizes formal and private home Iftar dinners for the members of Parliament, Officers of the Victorian police, faith and community leaders and members of the community in general. This unique project enables people of all faiths and cultures to socialize and learn about each other's customs in a warm friendly atmosphere.
Date: Throughout the holy period of
Ramadan
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| AUGUST 2008 | |
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THE VII INTERNATIONAL ABRAHAM
CONFERENCE
The seventh international Abraham Conference took place on the 19th
of October 2008 at the central hall of the ACU National. Over a
hundred and fifty guests attended the popular event which brings
members of the three Abrahamic religions to address social and
cultural problems faced by society today. This year's event focused
on reconciliation with indigenous people of Australia, analyzing the
reconciliation process proposed by the three Abrahamic religions.
Main speaker on the night was Pat Dobson, Chairman of the Lingiari
Foundation and Kimberly
Development Commission. Pat
Dobson emphasized on the
problems faced by the Aboriginal
people for so many years and
said that there was a long way
to go in the reconciliation
process.
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| DECEMBER 2008 | |
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SHEB'i ARUS "RUMI'S WEDDING
WITH ETERNITY"
Each year, on the 17th of December,
the Australian Intercultural Society organizes a special Sema
ceremony offered by the Mevlevi Order of Australia to celebrate
Hazreti Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s ‘Sheb-i Arus’ or ‘Wedding Night’.
It is the traditional night in the modern era when the Mevlevi Order
of Sufis, the whirling dervishes, and the many lovers of Mevlana
celebrate and remember his union with his Beloved, ‘Wedding with
Eternity’.
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| DECEMBER 2008 | |
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INTERFAITH CHRISTMAS VISITS
Every year during the holy period of Christmas AIS organizes
interfaith visits to Churches around Melbourne. Muslims in groups of
10 to 15 join Christians on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day to
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to learn about the practices
of Christian faith. This
Christmas a group of 12
visited St Patrick's Cathedral and a group of 10 visited St Pauls.
The visitors received a warm welcome from the Church officials . |
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