AN INTERFAITH DAY FOR YOUTH

Saturday September 14 was truly an active day of peace at the Multi-faith centre in the University of Toronto . Children of the Earth, World Spirit Youth Council, Sacred Fire of the Great Peace and the Interfaith Department of Scarboro Missions came together to invite the youth of Toronto to “Become the Change You Want the World to See!”

“An interfaith day for youth” was organized by Father Terry Gallagher of Scarboro Missions, Nina Meyerhof of Children of the Earth (United Nations NGO), Diane Longboat of the Sacred Fire of the Great Peace (Six nations Reserve), with the assistance of Marco Mascarin of the Institute of Traditional Medicine and a host of volunteers.

This day focused on the World Spirit Youth Council who had representatives from Japan, Afghanistan, Thailand, Nepal, Africa, Europe, Latin America, USA & Canada. A total of 22 young council members were in attendance. Over 100 individuals, many of them youths, were gathered in the audience.

The World Spirit Youth Council grew out of the tireless work of Nina Meyerhof. Nina is a well recognized worker for world peace at the International level. Her work within the U.N. gave rise to the Children of the Earth Program. From there she began to develop the World Spirit Youth Council.

Nina believes peace is more than the absence of war. It is a state of Being. To accomplish this state of being, new educational models must evolve that further character development, conscious living skills and mutual understanding. She wished to impart this to young people and to allow them to experience a life situation which goes beyond just being a member of a spiritual group. They would now be able to experience the universality of all peoples by discovering how we are all brothers and sisters to each other.

She also believes that spirituality is an expression. Projects such as feeding the poor, co-operative housing, are the effect, the outcome, of finding one’s own spirituality.

The World Spirit Youth Council currently has “hubs” in Toronto, Japan, Nepal and Thailand. A Hub is a group of young people who meet regularly, organize events and seek to live their belief together.

The Toronto hub formed in 2005 with the assistance of Fr. Terry Gallagher, Nina Meyerhof, Marco Mascarin, and Diane Longboat.

Morning events began at about 9:30 with the arrival of the runners who had been involved in the Sri Chinmoy Peace /Harmony Run in Toronto. After their arrival the runners mingled with the peace event participants outside of the Multi-Faith Centre’s doors. The leader of the runners, Shivaram, and Father Terry had a spirited time describing Sri Chinmoy’s life, work and devotion to physical fitness. Sri Chinmoy Kumar Ghose was an Indian spiritual teacher and philosopher who emigrated to the U.S. in 1964. An author, composer, artist and athlete, he was perhaps best known for holding public events on the theme of inner peace and world harmony (such as concerts, meditations, and races).His teachings emphasize love for God, daily meditation on the heart, service to the world.

The day continued in the sacred space on the second floor of the Multi-faith centre The Youth Council members sat in a circle at the front of the room. Fr. Terry introducing Diane Longboat and members of her group. Two of them involved the seated members of the Youth Council in a Smudging Ceremony.

Fr. Terry then asked Diane Longboat and her group to offer a stirring song of forgiveness (seeking and giving) between the ancestors of indigenous peoples and the those of the European heritage. She had performed this piece in Europe as part of her meeting with the Youth Council there.

The Council members were given time to introduce themselves to the audience of just over a hundred people. They spoke from their heart concerning their wish for world peace, for understanding between peoples, for acceptance and love to grow between people as they all begin to realize we are all equal.

They spoke of their personal commitment to this goal of world peace. As one member said, “Our generation is the ‘Make it or Break it’ generation.

The Youth Council members arrived at the university following their 5-day experience of First Nations traditions & practices with Diane Longboat at Sacred Fire of the Great Peace on the Six nations Reserve just outside of Brantford. Diane says that the youth were involved in indigenous ceremonies designed to help them feel connected to Spirit and the natural rhythms of the Mother Earth. This further assisted them to deepen their own spirituality within their own faith traditions.

Diane states; “These youth are passionate about their spirituality. They work on building spiritual strength: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

The balance of the day was spent in small group discussions. Each group was led by a council member. In attendance was also an “Elder”, usually a leader of faith group. This demonstrated how the group places importance on communication between “youth” and “elders”, holding the truth that each can learn from the other.

In wrapping up it was decided that the Toronto Core Group of World Spirit Youth Council, as well as their spiritual elders, would meet on Saturday, October 25 between 9:00 am and 12 noon at the Multi-faith centre. All interested individuals are invited to join with the group at that time.

The Multi-faith Centre is at 569 Spadina Avenue, Toronto. Entrance is at the rear of the building.

PICTURES AT; http://picasaweb.google.com/Interfaith.Unity/InterfaithYouthDay#