Active Interfaith Involvement of Mosque Foundation
The Mosque Foundation Interfaith Committee has been busy during this past spring and summer and it is gearing up for another year of activity and dialogue. We would love you to join in on the efforts of volunteering, dialogues, and advocating good community efforts in an interfaith forum –for women and men and youth community unity. If you are interested please Contact MF Interfaith Chair, email is below for more information.
This past spring, the St. Fabian & Mosque Foundation Women’s Dialogue held another annual Potluck Dinner inviting women of all faiths to share a meal and good conversation breaking through the barriers that separate us and finding common ground in caring for the earth. The theme this past spring was as always, Building Bridges for Common Ground. The guest presenter was Presbyterian Minister and founder of Grace Seeds Ministry Pastor Linda Wygant who educated and guided a hands-on activity about sustaining green life on earth and how we can and should advocate for green legislation.
The dialogue between the women of the Mosque Foundation and St. Fabian Catholic Church in Bridgeview is now heading into its 18th year and has recently been selected by the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers (CADEIO; a national organization) to represent this model of sustainable dialogue at this year’s upcoming Parliament of World Religions Conference, October 15-19 in Salt Lake City, Utah. CADEIO will be partial sponsor for two women ($1,000), Paula Daley from St. Fabian Catholic Church and Karen Danielson from the Mosque Foundation to speak on panel at this year’s PWR Conference. Congratulations to both the Mosque Foundation and St. Fabian Catholic Church for this very special recognition. This year’s PWR will feature a global spectrum of speakers from the Dali Lama to Tariq Ramadan. The Parliament is the oldest, the largest, and the most inclusive gathering of people of all faith and traditions. The first Parliament took place in 1893. Since, this historic event has taken place in Chicago, USA • Cape Town, South Africa • Barcelona, Spain • Melbourne, Australia – and now in Salt Lake City, Utah! Check out their website at http://www.parliamentofreligions.org the Global Interfaith Movement.
Next kicking-off summer activities, the MF Interfaith team went into full force assisting in the MF 14th Annual Ramadan Iftar. Keynote address by the Reverend Dr. Robert Reynolds, Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Chicago, was a deep reflection of racial and interfaith harmony in light of #BlackLivesMatter. Also included in the evening was the presentation of several awards. Community Service Award went to Bridgeview, Police Chief Walter Klimek for his efforts in keeping our neighborhood and all of Bridgeview safe particularly this past year. The Friendship Award went to the Oak Lawn Clergy and Religious Workers Association for reaching out to the MF community on all levels including solidarity in the face of hate, community dinners and a new dialogue (mentioned below). The Leadership Awards went to two well recognized leaders of the MF community, Dr. Abdul Amine, Universal School and Dr. Mahmoud Ismail, Aqsa School. The iftar was well attended by other officials and leaders both civic and religious as well as neighbors and long-time friends of the MF
The MF Interfaith team has been participating in several activities with the Oak Lawn Clergy and Religious Workers Association. A representative attends all advisory board meetings with the association every month between September and May from which bi-monthly dialogue meetings have been initiated. If you would like to observe the dialogue meetings and get involved they are open to members of participating congregations and are held at the Oak Lawn Library. Look for announcements or Contact MF Interfaith Chair, email is below. This summer we coordinated with the Association three OneCommunityOneMeal dinners fully sponsored by participating congregations at the Menard Center (Oak Lawn Park District). These dinners are offered to community members who have become homeless, feel lonely and need company, as well as congregation members and even officials. Volunteers sit to eat with guests and share in some community spirit together. If you would like to participate in these meals please reach out to the MF Interfaith team -Contact MF Interfaith Chair, email is below.
The newest interfaith engagement for the MF Interfaith team is its recent joining to SWIFT (South West InterFaith Team). Congregations from Tinley, Orland, Frankfurt and other surrounding suburbs form one of the largest interfaith groups in Illinois. Its mission is to promote dialogue among Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, to work together on common community projects and to promote mutual respect and understanding. Every month there is activity. Check out www.swiftinterfaith.org or for more information contact MF Interfaith Chair, email is below. Sunday October 11, 2015 we will be packaging meals for HungerVan a non-profit organization that delivers healthy meals to needy individuals, institutions and the homeless. It is a drive against hunger! We need more volunteers and donations ($5 per meal) the more donations, the more meals to deliver! Contact MF Interfaith Chair.
In addition to MF Interfaith community activity, this year, as for many years, the MF is represented in the CIOGC’s Interfaith Committee engaging in city-wide Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Jewish dialogues and dinners. And finally, the MF Interfaith Chair Karen Danielson for her work on the Gift of Hope Illinois Interfaith Council and the development of the Islamic Perspective on Organ Donation brochure has been selected as a 2015 Lifesaving Partner by Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. A special ceremony to recognize her contributions is planned forFriday, October 9, 2015. For more information about the MF Interfaith team or if you’re looking to get involved please contact the MF Interfaith Chair, Karen Danielson, kdanielson@mosquefoundation.org.