Recent world events are top of mind for many of our ākonga and kaimahi who are being encouraged to share their messages and prayers for peace during Interfaith Week of Prayer for World Peace from 12-19 October.
This international event started in 1974, aims to bring together people from all faith communities and none, and is also observed annually at Unitec.
Unitec’s Spirituality Oversight, Advocacy and Reference group (SOAR) is inviting the wider whānau to take part in this week’s activity in Te Puna by The Pod (across from the AskMe Desk).
From Monday, 13 October to Friday, 17 October between 12pm-1pm, kaimahi and ākonga can write their messages or prayers for peace on one of the cardboard doves, kindly supplied by our Whaikaha Supported Learning team, which will be displayed on the window behind the Pod. Doves represent peace, love, purity, hope, and new beginnings.
Writing materials are being supplied by SOAR who will have a committee member present each day, who can offer further support.
According to Chaplaincy and Multifaith Team Coordinator, Ricky Waters, this year’s theme, ‘Continuing to pray with hope in a troubled world’, is quite timely given the recent developments in the Middle East, the Ukraine War, and border conflicts on the Indian Subcontinent.
“This week of prayer for world peace coincides with the peace settlement and Palestine. But there’s always room to pray for more things. Writing your own prayer or a prayer prompt so others might read and pray, will be useful. So I invite others to come down over the course of this week,” says Mr Waters.
Master of Professional Accounting ākonga, Sanoja Galappaththi, who is from Sri Lanka, says she her message is for peace to prevail in the Middle East.
“What is happening over there has been concerning and in my thoughts. I hope my message can inspire change and we will have peace there. The last few days have been a positive sign,” she explains.
Fellow MPA student, Mayanthi Kariyawasam says prayer is important because it brings communities together and inspires hope for a better world.
“Embracing diversity and our differences is the key to living together harmoniously. More people need to have that mindset,” she says.
Additional Information for Interfaith Week of Prayer for World Peace
The International Prayer for Peace:
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe.
You can also access daily prayers and poems by going to https://www.facebook.com/WPWPNZ2014
or by scanning the QR code below.
It’s very heartening to see a great response from our whanau to the International Week of Prayer activities on campus. Well done all!
Thanks Peter. A great write-up. Thank you.