The City of Cape Town hosted an Interfaith blessing of the Newlands Springwater at the new collection point on Tuesday the 22nd May. What a special moment! The rains were included in the ceremony, and the Water and Sanitation Department shared some interesting background to their very challenging task. This beautiful event included prayers and blessings from many traditions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Judaism, Catholic, Unitarian, Anglican, AfricanTraditional and Quaker.
Each year the Turquoise Harmony Institute sends out an invitation during the holy month of Ramadan, inviting those of other faiths to come and enjoy an iftar meal (breaking the fast) with a family from their community. Mary and Francis from CTII enjoyed this wonderful opportunity:
It was such a privilege to be invited to an Iftar with two Turkish families this week during the sacred month of Ramadan. To gather around the table sharing delicious food, different cultures learning from each other in a relaxed home environment. A much appreciated gift. Thank you Turquoise Harmony and our beautiful hosts. – Mary
On a drizzly September morning a bus full of “pilgrims” set off on the annual interfaith bus tour. The rain soon stopped and St Michael’s Catholic Church Rondebosch was a beautiful start to the day. We then visited a Kramat in Constantia and back to the Soka Gakkai International Buddist centre in Eco village. At each location we were given a brief informative talk. We then proceeded to the Ahmadiyya Jama’at in Rondebosch East where we were treated to a delicious lunch. Lastly we visited the Ananda Kutir Ashram in Rondebosch East. All our hosts were so welcoming and hospitable happy to open their doors to us.
Judging from the comments and some appreciative emails our fellow travellers enjoyed the day and were most grateful for the opportunity.
Mary Frost
September 2017.
On the 1st September, the Cape Town Interfaith initiative participated in a wonderful event held to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for creation as we start the Season of Creation.
The service started with words from the Laudato Si
“The poor and the Earth are crying out. Help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future” read by Rev Natalie- Simons Arendse, Deputy Chair of CTII.
The event was organised by the Green Anglicans, SAFCEI and CTII to bring together different faith communities to offer prayers of blessing for creation, and to call us to action in commitment to protecting and saving our precious Earth.
The service ended with a planting and blessing of a tree.
See what else happened for this special day all around the world: https://medium.com/@CathClimateMvmt/season-of-creation-begins-f885ecc4645f
CTII in partnership with The Jewish Board of Deputies hosted 15 students and their Professor from Boston College USA, on the 15th August, in the succah at the Holocaust Centre. Local Jewish and Muslim students were invited to the conversation on “Religion Justice and Reconciliation”. It was an excellent interactive dialogue, thank you to all involved!
