Paraná, Argentina—Under the theme “Building Bridges Across Borders,” UPF-Argentina planted a tree at the Martin Fierro Park. The event was held on February 6 in conjunction with the 2021 UN World Interfaith Harmony Week 2021, which seeks to promote greater understanding, cooperation and dialogue among individuals and institutions with different beliefs and religions.
The planting of the Senna spectabilis tree concluded with a group meditation, completing the program of commitment, fraternity and environment protection organized by UPF-Argentina along with Francis Messengers, “El Arte de Vivir” from Paraná, the radio program “½ Mañana” (Parana’s agenda), and Pacis Nuntii Peace Messengers.
During the meeting, representatives from the public sector and civil society organizations, and areligious groups in Paraná and Santa Fe gave brief speeches. They proclaimed they wanted world peace, starting within themselves and respecting each other, beyond their beliefs and ideologies. Ambassador for Peace Yndabor del Valle Sayavedra, representative of the Diaguita culture and member of the Santa Fe’s Interreligious Dialogue and Peace Culture Board, expressed, “We are gathering as one family, understanding our common values.”
The event was coordinated by Ambassador for Peace Sandra Villalba, coordinator of Francis Messengers, along with Nerina Aiello, representative of “Arte de Vivir” (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) in Paraná, and journalist Silvia Gallea (radio program “½ Mañana”), who conducted the moment of the tree planting with Enrique Ríos, coordinator of road safety for Paraná Municipality, and Fabián Rojkyn, president of the East Neighborhood Center.
Participants in the meeting were Father Carlos Cepeda, director of the Ministries School and Permanent Diaconate and delegate of interreligious dialogue from Paraná’s Catholic Church Archbishopric; Mónica Palancar de Levrino, representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and member of the Santa Fe’s Interreligious Dialogue and Peace Culture Board; Eduardo Bustos, from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; the Elizabeth Escobar, Baldini and Hebe Rodríguez Trinity, from the Saint Lucia Parish; Svetlana Zajarova, of the Christian Orthodox confession, President of the Russia House in Paraná; and Ambassadors for PeaceJackeline Giusti and Eduardo Riera Borri, coordinators of the Pacis Nuntii Movement and members of Santa Fe’s Interreligious Dialogue and Peace Culture Board, and Matías Sayavedra, from Youth and Students for Peace-Santa Fe.
UN World Interfaith Harmony Week has been globally observed in the first week of February since 2011. It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in its Resolution A/RES/65/5, adopted on October 20, 2010. This resolution “reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and proclaims the World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony among all individuals, regardless of their faith.”
Report: / Photos: Sandra Villalba
More information on the World Interfaith Harmony Week: https://www.un.org/en/observances/interfaith-harmony-week