Montreal Interfaith Forum: Acting Locally and Thinking Globally

Montreal, Canada - UPF Montreal’s monthly meeting on March 17 was held on St. Patrick’s Day, and some of the Ambassadors for Peace of Irish descent supplied everyone with something green to wear for the occasion. Veteran Ambassador for Peace Tony Kinlough a representative of the Christian group Cursillo, welcomed everyone with an Irish greeting.

The spirit of respect among the participants of varying religious backgrounds for each other’s traditions is a great example of how it is possible to honor God regardless of theological or doctrinal differences.

It was suggested by one Ambassador for Peace that a good way to promote interreligious harmony is for representatives of different traditions to invite their neighbors and friends of different faiths to celebrations at their places of worship or in their homes. Through such hospitality and direct experience with religious ritual and tradition, ignorance that has long kept people apart can be dispelled.

The topic for the meeting was: “Toward a World of Universal Peace—Acting Locally & Thinking Globally”

A presentation by Mr. Franco Famularo on the UPF International Agenda for 2010 was followed by a discussion about what we can do locally to implement this vision. Ambassadors for Peace engaged in providing suggestions and ideas to take action steps in implementing the far reaching ideals of UPF.

The establishment of an interreligious council at the United Nations and the duplication of similar councils at all levels of society: municipal, provincial and national is the idea that has the most traction in Montreal and throughout Canada.

Especially due to the multi-cultural nature of large Canadian cities, interreligious, intercultural and inter-ethnic collaboration is not theoretical but a daily experience for most Canadians who often meet people of all faiths on the streets where they live, shop, go to school, and play.

The meeting ended with a prayer in the spirit of interfaith by a leader of the Haitian community in Montreal, Rev. Daniel Dorelien of the Pentecostal Church.