Extending Our Embrace – Toronto, Canada
The past year has been very challenging for all of us. Yet in spite of the need for social distancing, there are many unsung heroes among our faith communities who have found ways of extending their embrace and compassion into the wider world. Now, more than ever, we need to broaden our embrace, especially to those who are suffering.
In light of this reality and inspired by the fitting theme of this year’s World Interfaith Harmony Week 2021 – “Extending Our Embrace” – the Office for Interreligious Dialogue of the Archdiocese of Toronto, The Mary Ward Centre, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (IYAM) and the Intercultural Dialogue Institute came together to sponsor and envision an online program that would express the power of “Extending Our Embrace.” We sought to widen our circles of compassion and care through inspiring story-telling and art from diverse faith traditions. As we wanted this event to be intergenerational as well as interreligious, we put a call out far and wide to elicit the artistic gifts of young people.