“The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those

ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she

holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people.” (Nostra Aetate, No. 2)

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1 First Sunday of Advent 23 First Day of Hanukkah 25 Christmas Day

1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos) 5 Guru Gobind Singh Birthday 7 Feast of the Nativity 25 Lunar New Year

10 Tu B’Shevat 15 Nirvana Day 21 Maha Shivaratri 26 Ash Wednesday

10 Purim / Holi / Hola Mohalla 25 Annunciation of Mary

2 Ram Navami 9 Passover begins / Holy Thursday 12 Easter Sunday 19 Pascha (Orthodox Easter) 24 Ramadan begins

7 Visakha Puja 24 Eid al Fitr 29 Shavuot 31 Pentecost

7 Pentecost 11 Corpus Christi

24 Pioneer Day 30 Tish’a B’av 31 Eid al Adha

6 Transfiguration of the Lord 15 Assumption/Dormition of Mary

1 Season of Creation begins 8 Nativity of Mary (Theotokos) 19 Rosh Hashanah begins 28 Yom Kippur

3 Sukkot begins 4 Feast of St. Francis 11 Simcha Torah 31 Reformation Day

1 All Saints Day 14 Diwali 29 Advent begins

Holy Days & Seasons in the Abrahamic Traditions Hanukkah celebrates the liberation of Israel from the Greeks and the purification of the Temple.

Christmas Day/Feast of the Nativity celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Solemnity of Mary (Theotokos) celebrates Mary as the Mother of God.

Epiphany/Theophany celebrates the revelation of the manifestation of God in Jesus to the gentiles as remembered in Scripture.

Tu B’Shevat celebrates the birth of trees and ecological awareness and historically marks the beginning of the agricultural cycle.

Ash Wednesday begins the liturgical season of Lent in Christianity.

Purim commemorates the story of Esther and deliverance of the Jewish people from destruction.

Passover commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and institution of the Holy Eucharist.

Good Friday commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus.

Easter/Pascha celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ramadan commemorates Muhammad’s receiving the first revelations of the Quran.

Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and fasting from sunrise-to-sunset.

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Ascension of the Lord commemorates Jesus Christs’ ascension to God in heaven.

Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.

Corpus Christi celebrates the Blessed Sacrament as the Real Presence of Jesus.

Tish’a B’av mourns disasters in Jewish history, especially the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Pioneer Day commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley, Utah.

Eid al Adha commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son.

Transfiguration celebrates the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ as remembered in scripture.

Assumption/Dormition of Mary celebrates the falling asleep or assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.

Season of Creation is a month focused on care for our common home, the earth.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and celebrates God as Creator and Sovereign.

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement when Jews seek God’s forgiveness for their transgressions.

Sukkot commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness after the Exodus.

Feast of St. Francis commemorates the death and life of Francis of Assisi.

Reformation Day commemorates the Protestant Reformation that began in Europe in 1517.

All Saints Day commemorates deaths and lives of all the Christian Saints.

2020 Interreligious Calendar

Judaism

Catholic Christianity Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Western Christianity

Hinduism Buddhism

Islam Sikhism

This interreligious calendar was prepared by the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and is promoted by the Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission.

The Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission exists to:

• affirm and promote ecumenical and interreligious efforts by individuals and institutions.

• provide vision and leadership to the local Catholic Church in its mission to dialogue with other Christians, Jews, Muslims and all people of good will.

• facilitate a visible unity among area religious communities that is rooted in prayer, dialogue, acts of service and friendship.

For more information contact Teresa R. Albright, Ecumenical & Interreligious Officer, at albright@diocesekcsj.org

A b ou t t h i s C a l e n d a r

Liturgical colors are those specific colors used for vestments and

church décor within the context of Christian liturgy. The symbolism

of violet, white, green, red, and other colors serve to underline moods

appropriate to a season of the liturgical year or to highlight a

specific holy day. The season of Advent marks the Christian New Year

in the common lectionary.

Violet Advent & Lent

White Christmas & Easter

Green Ordinary Time

Red Holy Week & Pentecost

Nostra aetate (Latin: In our time) is the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. The declaration was promulgated on 28 October 1965 by Pope Saint Paul VI. It is the shortest of the 16 final documents of the Council and "the first in Catholic history to focus on the relationship that Catholics have with Jews." It "reveres the work of God in all the major faith traditions." It begins by stating its purpose of reflecting on what humankind have in common in these times when people are being drawn closer together. Read the full text at www.vatican.va.

www.kcsjcatholic.org @EICKCSJ

January 18-25, 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity An Invitation: Each year Churches gather to pray together for the full unity which is Christ's will “that all may be one,” as he and the Father are one during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. As we gather once again and pray in the hope of Christian Unity may our actions and prayers embody the true peace, reconciliation, and unity which is to be found wherever God dwells. As we gather throughout our nation to pray for the unity of Christians we are reminded of the importance and need for “unusual kindness” in the dialogue the leads to growth in unity. We do this in a world where separation and division hinder the quest for Christian Unity. In 2020, we are being called to show unusual kindness towards one another. As Paul recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, it is through their unusual kindness that a divided people were drawn closer together. (cf. Acts 27:18 – 28:10) Together may we work for the unity of all, joining our prayer to that of the Lord Jesus Christ, "that all may be one" (John 17:21). A History: The Church Unity Octave, a forerunner of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, was developed by Servant of God Father Paul Wattson, SA, at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, and was first observed at Graymoor from January 18-25, 1908. Today, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray for unity. The initial work on the 2020 theme was prepared by representatives from the Christian Churches in Malta.

Find homily suggestions, prayer service outline and other resources at www.geii.org

Kansas-Missouri Area Religious History & Headquarters

The Kansas City Metro, which straddles the stateline between Kansas and Missouri, is home to over 23 distinct religious traditions. Both Kansas and Missouri have had an important impact on the American

religious landscape, with several traditions rooting themselves here in origin or headquarters.

Commission Members

Teresa R. Albright, chair

Rev. Matthew Brumleve

Bonnie Haghirian

Suzanne Greenwood

Ann Hayles

George Noonan

Community of Christ

origin & headquarters (Independence, MO)

Church of the Nazarene

headquarters (Lenexa, KS)

Classical Pentecostalism

origin (Topeka, KS)

Missouri Synod Lutheran

headquarters (Kirkwood, MO)

Unity Church

origin & headquarters (Lee’s Summit, MO)

Holy Days & Seasons in the Abrahamic Traditions

The Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission endeavors to list holidays that are significant in either their religious context or potential for dialogue. The description of each holiday cannot exhaust nor capture its religious meaning for faith practitioners. If you would like to learn more about a particular holiday we encourage you to reach out to your neighborhood church, synagogue or mosque. If you would like help with your outreach, please contact your diocesan Ecumenical Officer.

International House of Prayer

origin & headquarters (Grandview, MO)