Interfaith Pilgrimage

In by zeinab

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2020-02-05

Country: South Africa
City: Western Cape
  • Organizer

    Cape Town Interfaith Initiative

  • Location

    St Mary’s Cathedral

  • Email

    [email protected]

We invited friends from around the world to help us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of World Interfaith Harmony Week, and we invited our friends and colleagues from areas around our City that do not often have much interaction. The Cape Flats is a deeply traumatised area of Cape Town with an exceptionally high rate of violent crime. The Faith Leaders of that area are severely stretched, experiencing the daily necessity of supporting their community through yet more gangsterism, yet another murder. But who is supporting these Faith Leaders? We decided to open our hearts and extend our hospitality in a series of united events designed to create interfaith harmony and express our love and support for all. The principle of compassion and a deep desire for social justice were some of our motivating factors. We wanted to show that "you are never alone", and interfaith friendship is our superpower.   Day 5: We join a group of Interfaith Leaders for a visit to the historic Catholic Cathedral, St Mary’s, more formally known as the Cathedral of our Lady of the Flight into Egypt. We will be welcomed to St Mary’s by none other than His Grace the Archbishop of Cape Town himself – a highlight in a week of highlights. As we continue our pilgrimage, we’ll enjoy a light lunch and reflection on our morning’s experience before our appointment at Groote Kerk, the home of the Dutch Reformed Church. Historically, this is the church that provided theological justification for the apartheid system… and is now working hard under dynamic leadership to heal the wounds of the past and make restitution. Open Hearts Open Minds internet cafe? within the sanctity of this Church will be our sacred dialogue in search of healing through interfaith harmony. After dinner, we will join the Jewish Community for an Interfaith Concert in celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week 2020.