interfaith network - city of greater dandenong...about the network the interfaith network is a group...

Interfaith Network - City of Greater Dandenong

About the Network

The Interfaith Network is a group of diverse cultural and religious faiths, working in partnership with the City ofGreater Dandenong Council to promote peace and harmony within the municipality.

The Network is the first established Interfaith Network in Australia, and consists of various traditional and multi-faith groups who meet monthly at the Council offices. Their goal is simple - promoting understanding, respect and tolerance for each other’s beliefs by living together in peace and goodwill.

The Interfaith Network covers faith communities in the Springvale, Dandenong, Keysborough and Noble Park areas.

The Network strives to achieve the vision of ‘Many Faiths, One People.’

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Twentieth Anniversary

In August 2009, the Interfaith Network celebrated its 20th anniversary. This was an important milestone for the Network and for the wider community as the Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong is the oldest network in Australia.

To celebrate and mark that significant occasion, the Interfaith Network decided to launch a commemorative calendar to visually express the importance of bringing peace, harmony and understanding within the local community and beyond.

The theme chosen was ‘light’ as light is common to all faiths and spiritual traditions. The major Religious Festivals andHoly Days of the seven faiths and two spiritual organisations that make up the Interfaith Network, as well as aboriginal andindigenous spirituality, were also featured. These special and sacred occasions throughout the year, serve as an importantreminder of the significance of faith and spirituality in people’s lives.

The Interfaith Network hopes you will enjoy the visual displays of ‘light’ as interpreted and understood by a range of faiths and spiritual perspectives. As you read the different texts each month, may this inspire the understanding that, although we have many faiths, we are one people.

Common Statement of the Interfaith Network

We bring greetings from the faith communities to the Mayor, Councillors and people of the City of Greater Dandenong.

We offer to the City of Greater Dandenong our common commitment to seek to live together in peace and goodwill.

We affirm our desire to promote respect and tolerance for the integrity of each other’s beliefs, cultures and traditions.

This desire arises not only from our common humanity but also from our being people of faith and people of prayer.

We recognise that as neighbours, we have responsibilities to the community, the world and ourselves. We therefore urge allcitizens, both religious and non-religious, to put aside intolerance, prejudice and divisiveness, to attain peaceful and fruitfulco-existence in our City.

Newly-elected Mayor, Cr Noelle Trembath with leaders of the faith communities after their presentation of the Common Statement and multi-faith banner during the Council meeting of 21st August 1989.

December 2009S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29 30 31

January 2010February 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

January 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

Sikh

Founders DayBrahma Kumaris

Tu B’ShevatJewish

EpiphanyChristian

TheophanyOrthodox Christian

Thai Pongal – EkadasiHindu (South India)

Christmas DayOrthodox Christian

Dates for Muslim Holy Days and Festivals are the EXPECTED dates only and should be confirmed by physical moon sighting or contacting the local masjid (mosque).

ABORIGINAL / INDIGENOUS

The Sun………the Giver of Life

One dreaming story tells of the time

of creation, when the world was dark

and all the creatures were asleep………

Sun Mother was invited to wake the

creatures which inhabited the Earth.

The creatures chose their shape and

form then Sun Mother warned them

she would be leaving. Darkness did

not follow as the Moon and Morning

Star, children of Sun Mother, gave light

and then followed the birth of the first

humans. Sun Mother requested:

“Care for the land for the sake of

your grandparents as well as for your

children and grandchildren.”

The story beautifully honours the

Earth’s guardianship that has been

bestowed upon every human being. It

mirrors the Bible’s story of Genesis and

many other stories of creation.

Image ©

Mathew

James W

ilson - ww

w.tokenim

age.com

January 2010S M T W T F S 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 3031

February 2010march 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28

February 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

NationalApology Day

Koori Community

Lunar New YearBuddhist - Mahayana(Chinese, Vietnamese)

Lunar New YearBuddhist - Mahayana(Chinese, Vietnamese)

Ash WednesdayChristian

Maha Shiva RatriHindu

PurimJewish

Mawlid-al-NabiMuslim

Ayyam-i-HaBaha’i


BAHA’I

The first candle is unity in the political realm.

The second candle is unity of thought in world undertakings.

The third candle is unity in freedom.

The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself.

The fifth candle is the unity of nations…causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens…

The sixth candle is unity of races, making all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race.

The seventh candle is unity of language, i.e. the choice of a universal tongue in which all peoples will converse.

Each and every one of these will inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom of God will aid and assist their realization.

‘…Behold a candle how it gives its light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light.’

Baha’i Writings

February 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728

march 2010april 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30


7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

March 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

The Fast (Beginning)Baha’i

The Fast (End)Baha’i

Naw RuzBaha’i

PesachJewish

National Walk for ValuesSathya Sai

Palm or Passion Sunday

Christian

BRAHMAKUMARIS

LIGHT IS

Light travels softlyBridging the differences.

Light carries all the names of GodAnd makes them one.

Without light, ordinary thingsTake on frightening shape.

Without light we cannot seeThe dirt in the corners,Or the hole in the ground,Or our neighbours loneliness.

Without light we lose our glasses,or our keys,or our way.

And fear is born.

Light is dimmed by fear.And want,And anger.

But darkness is always shot through with light.

The light of hope,The light of courage,The light of compassion.

And always, alwaysThe light of God.No matter, what name we use.

So

Call it a wave, or a particle, or a halo.

A candle in the dark, The dawn of hope,Or the light of God.

It is always there,

At the heart.

© Artist: Sigrun O

lsen from Iceland Barbara Bossert Ramsay © Jan 2009

march 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 31

april 2010may 2010

S M T W T F S 12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

April 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Maundy (Holy) Thursday

Christian

Shri Ram NavamiHindu

Good FridayChristian

Orthodox Christian

Easter SundayChristian

Orthodox Christian

Yom Ha Sho’ahJewish

Yom Ha’atzmautJewish

Feast of Rivdan(Beginning)

Baha’i

Hindu New YearHindu

Vaisakhi FestivalSikh

New Year DayBuddhist - Theravada

(Burmese, Cambodian, Lao,Sri Lankan)

BUDDHIST

Shining the LIGHT within

As light dispels darkness, wisdom dispels ignorance.The darkness of ignorance keeps one bound in self-centeredness, breeding greed, animosity and hatred.Search for the light within you; it can set you free from these dark emotions.When the light within starts to shine, dispelling all the darkness, then one is “Enlightened!”

From the enlightened one flows an endless stream of unconditional loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and a calm uprightness, in the midst of all vicissitudes of life, radiating brightness, through the engulfing darkness of negativity.

As light disperses darkness, so will this boundless mind drive away the dark self-centred emotions.

May you all dispel the darkness within and around you, helping humanity to glow in its full radiance.

“To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom” Buddha.

april 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30

may 2010June 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29 30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

May 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Feast of Rivdan(End)Baha’i

Easwaramma DaySathya Sai

World Falun Dafa Day

ShavuotJewish

National Sorry Day

Koori Community

VesakBuddhist - Mahayana(Chinese, Vietnamese)

Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Baha’i

PentecostChristian

Orthodox Christian

Declaration of the BabBaha’i

Anniversary of 1967 Referendum

Reconciliation Week(until June 3rd)

Koori Community

VesakBuddhist - Theravada

(Burmese, Cambodian, Lao,Sri Lankan)

CHRISTIANLight is God’s gift to humanity. In the Old Testament, light is often contrasted with darkness, darkness of mind and darkness of life’s difficulties. Light overcomes darkness.

Jesus as light. Jesus makes the claim which Christians believe. Jesus said: I am the light of the world. (John 8:12) Therefore Jesus extends the Old Testament understanding. Through Jesus’ claim, other sayings, deeds and the life, death and resurrection, he reveals more fully the nature of God who cares for human beings.

Light transforms. Paul, the letter writer and theologian, was blinded by light on the road to Damascus. His life was turned around. He gave up persecuting Christians and became Christianity’s great advocate.

Light enlightens. The followers of Jesus are called to be lights of the world. They are to love God and love their neighbours.

Image © Mathew James Wilson - www.tokenimage.com

may 2010S M T W T F S 12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

June 2010July 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30 31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

June 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Mabo DayKoori Community

PosonBuddhist - Theravada

(Sri Lankan)

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev

Sikh

HINDULight represents knowledge which destroys the darkness of ignorance. Light is illumination in its broadest sense.

The Gayathri Manthra in Hinduism is a universal prayer which is directed to the Divine Mother: “O Divine Mother, our hearts are filled with darkness. Please make this darkness distant from us and promote illumination with us”

Other interpretations: “May the Supreme Light that illuminates the three worlds, illumine our intellect also fully, and direct the rays of our intelligence to the path of virtue”

“We meditate upon the Divine Light of that adorable Sun of spiritual Consciousness.May it illumine our intellect just as the splendorous sunlight dispels our darkness”

“Earth, Sky, Heaven. Let us meditate on these and on the most excellent Light of that adorable Sun .We pray that they may guide our intellect.”

Fire is sacred in Hindu ceremonies being the symbol of light in addition to warmth, power and purification.

June 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 10 11 1213 14 15 16 17 18 1920 21 22 23 24 25 2627 28 29 30

July 2010august 2010

S M T W T F S1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30 31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

July 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

NAIDOC Week(until July 11th)

Koori Community

Israa’/Me’rajMuslim

Martyrdom of the BabBaha’i

Tisha B’AvJewish

Lailatul-Bara’atMuslim


JEWISH

Annually between the end of November

and end of December, Jewish families

around the world celebrate the Festival

of Lights. Different to the Western

calendar, Chanukah begins on 25th

day of the Hebrew month of Kislev.

This holiday celebrates the Macabees

reclamation of their temple over 2,300

years ago. After Judah and his followers

reclaimed and cleaned the temple, they

wanted to light the eternal light, the N’er

Tamid, present in every Jewish house of

worship. They found a tiny jug of oil,

enough for one day. This tiny amount

miraculously stayed lit for eight days,

the time taken to find more holy oil.

Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark

their victory and re-dedication of

the Jerusalem Temple - Chanukah

meaning “rededication”. On the first

night of Chanukah one flame is lit, on

the second night two and so forth. It is

customary for one extra light to be lit

called the “Shamash”.

July 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 34 5 6 7 8 9 1011 12 13 14 15 16 1718 19 20 21 22 23 2425 26 27 28 29 30 31

august 2010september 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

August 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

NationalAboriginal &

Islander Children’s Day

Koori Community

Raksha BhandhanHindu, Brahma Kumaris

International DayKoori Community

Ramadan(First Day)

Muslim

Shri Ganesh Chaturthi

Hindu

Vulan FestivalBuddhist – Mahayana(Chinese, Vietnamese)


MUSLIM“The Light” is one of the 99 Names of God. It means “the One who guides”. It is also the name of the 24th chapter of the Qur’an,

which contains the verse “God is the light of the heavens and the earth” (24:35). The spiritual meaning of “The Light” is Divine light

as reflected in the pure heart similar to a clear mirror reflecting sunlight.

In one of his poems, Rumi speaks of this Divine light: “The light which shines in the eye is really the light of the heart. The light

which fills the heart is the light of God, which is pure and separate from the light of intellect and sense” (Mathnawi 1:1126-7, tr.

Helminski). With God’s light, a person’s path becomes clearer. A heart with God’s light will also contain compassion and be purified

of spiritual diseases such as greed, jealousy, and arrogance. Such a heart is blessed.

Image © Richard Dion Wilson - www.photobase.com.au

august 2010S M T W T F S1 2 3 4 5 6 78 9 10 11 12 13 1415 16 17 18 19 20 2122 23 24 25 26 27 2829 30 31

september 2010OctOber 2010

S M T W T F S 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 3031

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

September 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Installation of Guru Granth Sahib

Sikh

Lailatul-QadrMuslim

Rosh HashanaJewish

Eid-al-Fitr(End of Ramadan)

Muslim

Yom KippurJewish

Children’s FestivalBuddhist - Mahayana

(Vietnamese)

SukkotJewish

Shri KhrisnaJeyanthi

Hindu, Brahma Kumaris

Shemini AtzeretJewish


SATHYA SAI

LOVE ALL SERVE ALLHELP EVER HURT NEVER

The only Light in this world which

does not get extinguished is the light

of the Self, the Atma Jyothi. You are

Light. The same Light is found in

others also. The body drops away and

you are the Light. That is liberation.

Even he, whom you were treating as

your worse rival has the selfsame

Light in his innermost heart. Know

that the same Jyothi of Light is in all.”

Search for the consciousness – the

state of consciousness, which is

unaffected by gusts of passion, which

is pure, which is free from egoism or

the desire to possess. Then alone can

you experience the Light, and illumine

the path for others.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

september 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30

OctOber 2010nOvember 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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October 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Simchat TorahJewish

Deepavali (Diwali)Hindu

United Nations DayInterfaith

Birth of the BabBaha’i

Proclamation of Guru Granth Sahib

Sikh

Pchum BenBuddhist - Theravada(Cambodian & Thai)

SIKHAccording to Sikh thought the entire creation is from the one source of Light. The Light of God is in all hearts. Human quest is to recognize this.Guru Nanak says: “If a hundred moons were to rise And a thousand suns appeared Even with such light The soul will remain in darkness without the illuminating guidance of the Guru.”The Guru enables one to see God and to eliminate darkness. In Sikh doctrine the Guru is the Word (Shabad).The Sikh Faith developed under the guidance of ten successive Gurus. The tenth Guru appointed no personal successor. He proclaimed the Holy Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru. Sikh belief is that it was one continuing Jyot (Spiritual Light) manifesting itself in ten Gurus. The Guru’s body was the repository of God’s Light. It was the medium for the articulation of the shabad (Word). So the Jyot or spiritual Light is the Formless Guru and the Light is the Shabad (God’s Word).

OctOber 2010S M T W T F S 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 3031

nOvember 2010December 2010

S M T W T F S 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31


7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

November 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

All Saints DayChristian

Birth ofBaha’u’llah

Baha’i

Yaum-al-ArafahDay of Arafaat

(Hajj)Muslim

Eid-al-AdhaMuslim

Birthday of Guru Nanak

Sikh

Birthday of Sai BabaSathya Sai

Martyrdom of Guru TeghBahadur

Sikh

Advent SundayChristian

Akhand Bhajans (Global)

Sathya Sai


Common Statement of the Interfaith Network

We bring greetings from the faith communities to the Mayor, Councillors and people of the City of Greater Dandenong.

We offer to the City of Greater Dandenong our common commitment to seek to live together in peace and goodwill.

We affirm our desire to promote respect and tolerance for the integrity of each other’s beliefs, cultures and traditions.

This desire arises not only from our common humanity but also from our being people of faith and people of prayer.

We recognise that as neighbours, we have responsibilities to the community, the world and ourselves. We therefore urge allcitizens, both religious and non-religious, to put aside intolerance, prejudice and divisiveness, to attain peaceful and fruitfulco-existence in our City.

nOvember 2010S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 1314 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30

December 2010January 2011

S M T W T F S 12 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 25 26 27 28 2930 31

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

December 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

ChanukahJewish

MuharramMuslim

Christmas DayChristian


Day of AshuraMuslim

January 2011S M T W T F S 1

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November 2011

april 2011S M T W T F S 1 2

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auguSt 2011S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6

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2011 Calendar Months

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www.interfaithnetwork.org.au

Photography: © Cameron L’Estrange - www.fotogroup.com.au (except where stated) Design: Richard Dion Wilson - www.photobase.com.au

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interfaith network - city of greater dandenong...about the network the interfaith network is a group...

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