SLEDP South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership Event   SLEDP supported two daily half hour at home sessions every day of Inter Faith Week at 7am and 7pm. Participants read The Golden Rule and to undertook an appropriate practice from any faith or none (for example chanting, meditation, reading, reciting).  Councillor Guy Tirvengadum (Former Mayor of Kendal and Chair of SLEDP and founder of Kendal Unity Festival) commented “I am always delighted that Kendal puts on a variety of events in WIHW. It is wonderful that a small town is able to make an important contribution to the vital work of understanding each other and social cohesion”.   Monsignor Francis Slattery working with SLEDP   Monsignor Francis Slattery (a 91 year old retired Roman Catholic Priest) led an afternoon session of meditation/prayer and study. Monsignor Slattery commented “Every year this is an occasion to celebrate our differences and richly varied beliefs. It was a joy to be able to come together and just express what we do have in common, even if we do have differences of expression. This year we were limited in what we could do because of Covid-19. What we did was share a time of meditation or prayer, of reading the Psalms and a Blessing. This we did in our own homes. It was a simple reminder of our togetherness, a fact we share a common language when speaking of our faiths and a joy in knowing others have similar expressions. We have to be thankful at this time for this simple act of faith which hopefully binds us more closely together.”   South Lakeland’s Unique Contribution   We are especially proud that we may be offering an event by the oldest person to lead an event who demonstrates to the world that anyone of any age can make an important contribution to understanding and peace. 91 year old retired Roman Catholic Priest Monsignor Francis Slattery has been involved in interfaith work in Cumbria for many years. He recently gained local and national recognition for his contribution. He has held a WIHW events every year since 2017, including a celebration of his 90th birthday in 2019.   SLEDP is honoured that the booklet Cumbrian Supplement for the national booklet by South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership (SLEDP) (Second Edition 2019), is on the WIHW website resources page and will have been used in WIHW 2021.      

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