World Religion Conference hosted in St Michael and All Angels

"HEALING A POLARIZED WORLD.”
St. Michael and All Angels Church in Prince George was honoured to be asked by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’et of BC and Yukon, to host their ‘World Religions Conference’ on September 16th 2024, where the chosen topic was ‘Healing a Polarized World.’
One hundred and eighty-six guests packed the sanctuary to hear eight speakers from different faith traditions, who shared their spiritual thoughts on how it is an imperative that we all strive to heal the polarized world we live in.
Darlene MacIntosh, the Chancellor of the University of Northern BC and an elder of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, opened the proceeding with a profoundly moving Indigenous prayer and then continued to moderate the rest of the conference.
The Rev. George Westgate, incumbent of both St. Michael’s and Grace churches, welcomed with open arms, the diverse nations and cultures who were gathered in God’s house. A deeply moving event occurred when the Jewish speaker, in the spirit of peace and reconciliation, publicly embraced a Muslim brother, and spoke the Middle Eastern words of peace, Shalom.
The faith traditions on the panel of speakers were Indigenous, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindi, Sikh, and Ba’hai. The Buddhist speaker was unable to make it.
There was a remarkable spiritual convergence amongst the speakers about the important of striving for peace and justice within the context of joyful diversity, to allow us to come together and heal. We acknowledged we are all God’s children and we belong to one an one.
After the presentations were over, one hundred and forty people stayed for a beautiful East Indian supper held in the hall. The room bulged at the seams with every single seat and table occupied; the rich sounds of energetic, lively, happy conversations reached the roof rafters and beyond! The atmosphere was filled with hope and peace, and we felt intensely alive and loved by our diverse sisters and brothers.
God be praised for gifting us with this evening of joy.

Article written by : Dr.Marie Hay People's Warden, St Michael and All Angels

Photos: Philomena Hughes