Almoonir Dewji selected as a Difference Maker and Medal-bearer for The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay – Calgary, Alberta

On February 27, 2012 I had the honour of being selected as a Difference Maker and be a medal-bearer for The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.

The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay:

Beginning on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador – the easternmost point in North America and approximately 15 kilometres south-east of St. John’s – the 25th Anniversary Relay will retrace the Canadian segment of the original Tour, but this time one man in motion will be represented and celebrated by many in motion; engaging 7,000 participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others.

Medal-Bearers:

Focusing on engaging Canadians to take up the challenge and become catalysts for positive change, the Relay will feature Medal-Bearers who will run, walk, wheel or bike and complete their segments through a variety of forms of movement for all abilities.

More at the source: That We May Know Each Other: Calgary Interfaith Initiatives: The Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay – Day 188 – Calgary, Alberta.

Almoonir Dewji and his firm in support of the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank

Once again my firm, Callow & Associates, is sponsoring (7th year) and participating in the annual “Amble with Angus” on Friday, December 18th 2009 @ 7:30am. The event occurs live “on air” during the peak air time of the CBC Radio One (99.1 FM) morning show, the Calgary Eye Opener.

This year, this 5K fun run is in support of the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank’s Children’s Milk Program. Last year the Children’s Milk Program provided 57,342 litres of milk and 2,346 containers of infant formula to Calgary children in need. The goal is to raise $15,000.

Join our staff and clients. It’s a lot of a fun in support of a great cause.

http://almoonir.blogspot.com/2009/12/calgary-inter-faith-food-banks.html

Jewish, Christian and Muslim Communities Commemorate Eid-ul-Adha

On Thursday, December 3, 2009, Calgary’s Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities came together at City Hall to commemorate Eid-ul-Adha with Mayor Dave Bronconnier and other municipal leaders. The event was hosted by the Shia Ismaili Muslim Community of Calgary.
….
This year’s event celebrated the shared values of compassion and care. We all came together and celebrated our common Abrahamic, monotheistic tradition and ethical principles founded on shared human values.

Read more – Earlier related

Upcoming Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) meeting at Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre

The next meeting of the Inter-Faith Network of Calgary (IFNC) for this year will be hosted by the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre on Sunday, November 15 2009 at 2:30pm.

The theme for this year is:‘How is your faith tradition responding to the challenges of life in 21st century Calgary?’

The discussions will be lead by Rani Murji.

Details here: http://almoonir.blogspot.com/2009/10/upcoming-inter-faith-network-of-calgary_30.html

Catholic World Religion Students visits Calgary Jamatkhana as part of the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s “Discover Religious Diversity” program

Read at the source: http://almoonir.blogspot.com/

End of Life and Bereavement Practices of various faith and cultural communities

via Almoonir Dewji’s blog:

On June 9, 2009, I was invited to make a presentation about funeral services of the Shia Ismaili Muslim tradition to the health care professionals at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.

The objective of the session was to provide the staff of the hospital an insight of funeral and bereavement practices of the various faith and cultural communities.

Read at the source: http://www.almoonir.blogspot.com

Western Canada High School visits Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana

via Almoonir Dewji’s blog:

On May 21, 2009 Ms. Shelley Buckingham and students from the World Religions class of Western Canada High School came to visit the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre.

World Religions introduces students to an exploration of religions around the world: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.

Read at the source.

Lord Beaverbrook High School visits Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana

On May 4, 2009 Ms. Nicole Cameron, Ms. Michelle Kuss-Hornby and students from the World Religion class (Gr. 11 and 12) came to visit the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, as part of the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s “Discover Religious Diversity: Full day guided outing” program.

complete at Almoonir Dewji’s Calgary Interfaith Initiatives blog.

1st Annual Interfaith Youth Festival of Calgary

This will be an interfaith celebration of food, art and faith. We will have an exhibition on the shared value of compassion. Come to be inspired and learn from the next generation.

Where: Kahanoff Centre, 200-1202 Centre Street SE, Calgary
Who: Interfaith Youth Council Calgary
When: March 15, 2009, 1.00 – 4.00 p.m.

More details at the source.

Students from Father Lacombe High School visits Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre

Discover Religious Diversity – Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre

On February 18 2009, Chaplain Mike Javier and students from Father Lacombe High School visited the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre: The tour was organized as part of the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s “Discover Religious Diversity: Full Day Guided Outing” program.

Students receiving a copy of Dictionary of Islam and The Ismailis An Illustrated History for their school library

Complete at the source: That We May Know Each Other: Calgary Interfaith Initiatives

Calgary Canada: Engaging our Youth

From Almoonir Dewji’s blog

The next meeting of the IFNC for this year will be hosted by Calgary’s Sikh Community on Wednesday, February 12th 2009 at the Sikh Society Gurdwara (Old Banff Coach Rd. & 81 St. SW) at 7:30pm.

The issue for discussion will be “Engaging our youth”

The theme for this year is: Issues Arising When Practising Your Faith in 21st Century Calgary

http://www.almoonir.blogspot.com/2009/02/upcoming-interfaith-network-of-calgary.html

Ismaili Jamatkhana hosts the InterFaith Network of Calgary

On January 18, 2009 the Ismaili Muslim Community hosted the Interfaith Network of Calgary at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre.

The session was attended by 40 participants from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh and Ismaili Muslim faith tradition.

Rev. Tom Melvin brought a group of youth from Deer Park United Church to attend this session as part of the requirement towards their Confirmation.

Jamil Kassam, an Ismaili Muslim scholar, talked about “Identity and Pluralism,” with reference to the Ismailis in Calgary.

Complete at the source with more photographs

Next meeting of Interfaith Network of Calgary will be held at Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre

The next meeting of the IFNC for this year will be hosted by Calgary’s Ismaili Muslim Community on Sunday, January 18th 2009 at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre (1128 45th Ave. NE ) at 2:30pm.

The theme for this year is: Issues Arising When Practising Your Faith in 21st Century Calgary

Details at the source.

Almoonir Dewji: My Imam Is Coming To Town

From Almoonir Dewji’s blog. Visit the source to read congratulatory notes and welcome wishes from various inter-faith colleagues and individuals in Canada.

After 16 years, I get to welcome my Imam to my hometown (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) again.

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter.

I look forward to his visit to Calgary to:

• accept the grace and blessings of the presence of a member of the Prophet’s family
• express my personal gratitude to him for dedicating his life in improving the quality of life of my family, the Ismaili community and all humanity
• listen to his guidance on how I can live a spritual-worldly balanced life and be a model Canadian and global citizen

It was heartening to receive many warm wishes from my interfaith colleagues when I shared with them the article in the Calgary Herald announcing his visit (see below).

Complete at the source.

Catholic Students Visit Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana

From Almoonir Dewji’s blog:

http://almoonir.blogspot.com/2008/11/catholic-students-visit-calgary-ismaili.html

Over the past two days I had the honour to host, at the Calgary Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre, students from the World Religion Class at two Catholic High Schools: Father Lacombe High School, Calgary and St. Martin de Porres Senior High School, Airdrie.

The tours were organized as part of the Canadian Centre for Diversity‘s “Discover Religious Diversity: Full Day Guided Outing” program. The folllowing is a description of the program from their website:

Canada has a great diversity of faiths and religions but most of us are barely acquainted with them. So, in a single day, we take students to three houses of worship where they learn about the history, customs and traditions of each religion. Interactive questions and answer sessions are part of each visit and a brief concluding session led by Centre staff.

Complete at the source

Keeping the Faith – Ismaili Muslims host Historic Cities exhibit

Saturday, July 05, 2008 – Graeme Morton / Calgary Herald
Related: Almoonir Dewji’s Blog (pictures)

Calgarians will get a chance to view the Historic Cities exhibition, an initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, today when Calgary’s Ismaili Muslim community hosts its annual Stampede breakfast.

The dramatic collection of photographs and narrative text chronicles the work spearheaded by the Aga Khan in promoting the conservation and restoration of buildings and public spaces in historic cities throughout the Muslim world.

“It showcases some of the architectural marvels of Muslim civilizations, which are often not that well known in the West,” says Almoonir Dewji of the Calgary Ismaili community.

“And there’s certainly an economic development component, where the local population is involved in the restorations. It’s about bringing back pride in their history,” Dewji adds.

The Historic Cities projects include the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, the Citadel of Aleppo and Masyaf in Syria, the Djingereyber Mosque in Mali, the Timur Shah Mausoleum in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Humayan’s Tomb in New Delhi, India.

Calgary Herald

Calgary Canada: Bridges To a Common Future

From Almoonir Dewji’s blog

You are invited to join us in building a common future founded on trust and understanding. Let’s make Calgary a city that shines with hope for future generations.

Come to an evening of hospitality hosted by members of the Muslim and Christian communities in Calgary in conjunction with Initiatives of Change – where we hope to bring the lens through which we view each other into focus with the help of the film:

The Imam & the Pastor.

Sunday June 22, 2008
4 pm to 6 pm
South Calgary Community Association
3130 16 Street SW
Free Admission

More at the source

So, Are You Elijah? – An Inspirational Story

From Almoonir Dewji’s blog, an excellent story:

The prophesied return of the ancient prophet Elijah is perhaps the most intriguing and mystifying aspect of Passover. No one really knows exactly when or where the expectation that Elijah would return on Passover began, but it has nonetheless been a long-standing tradition to set an extra place at the table in anticipation of his return. Jews the world over believe that Elijah will come on the eve of Passover as a forerunner to the Messiah and that he will answer all questions and resolve all debates over the Torah.

At the recent Community Passover Seder event held at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue in Calgary, I heard one version of Elijah’s story that has a unverisal message:

A pious and wealthy Jew asked his rabbi, “For about forty years I have opened the door for Elijah every Seder night waiting for him to come, but he never does. What is the reason?” The rabbi answered, “In your neighborhood there lives a very poor family with many children. Call on the man and propose to him that you and your family celebrate the next Passover in his house, and for this purpose provide him and his whole family with everything necessary for the eight Passover days. Then on the Seder night Elijah will certainly come.” The man did as the rabbi told him, but after Passover he came to the rabbi and claimed that again he had waited in vain to see Elijah. The rabbi answered, “I know very well that Elijah came on the Seder night to the house of your poor neighbor. But of course you could not see him.” And the rabbi held a mirror before the face of the man and said, “Look, this was Elijah’s face that night.”

When I heard the story it reminded me of the Sufi saying: Past the suffering walked he who asks, “Why, oh God, do you not do something for these people?” To which God replied, “I did do something, I made you.”

So, are you Elijah or should we expect someone else?

http://almoonir.blogspot.com/2008/04/so-are-you-elijah.html

Calgary – Community Passover Seder

Almoonir Dewji of Ismaili Muslim Community attended the “Community Passover Seder” held at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue, organized by the Calgary Jewish Community Council. It was a wonderful opportunity for the local Jewish community to share this tradition and its many meanings and messages with Calgarians.

The following is an explanation of this holiday:

Passover is the oldest and one of the most holy of all Jewish festivals. It began when the Jewish people left their bondage in ancient Egypt more than 3000 years ago. There is something truly remarkable about Passover as more than 90% of Jews around the world continue to celebrate this holiday. More Jews celebrate Passover than any other holiday in the Jewish calendar. There are numerous possible explanations:

Complete at the source

Selected Poetry: Hafiz and Ibn al-Arabi

Would You Think It Odd?

“I am in love with every church
And mosque
And temple
And any kind of shrine

Because I know it is there
That people say the different names
Of the One God.”

Would you tell your friends
I was a bit strange if I admitted

I am indeed in love with every mind
And heart and body.

O I am sincerely
Plumb crazy
About your every thought and yearning
And limb
Because, my dear,
I know
That it is through these

That you search for Him

Hafiz

O Marvel! a garden amidst the flames.
My heart has become capable of every form:
it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,
and a temple for idols and the pilgrim’s Kaa’ba,
and the tables of the Torah and the book of the Quran.
I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love’s camels take,
that is my religion and my faith.

ibn al-`Arabi, Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, in The Mystics of Islam, translated
by Reynold A Nicholson

–
Inspirations:

http://almoonir.blogspot.com/

http://www.cedarlane.org/04serms/s041128.pdf

http://www.allspirit.co.uk/hafizodd.html

http://www.ibnarabisociety.org/