Catholic Schools To Launch Harmony Clubs By SAR NEWS
NEW DELHI (SAR NEWS) -- The Regional Commission for Dialogue and Ecumenism of the Andhra Pradesh Bishops' Council (APBC) has launched an initiative to promote harmony clubs and forums in the Church-run high schools and colleges. The move gains significance in the wake of rampant communal violence and hate campaigns that are threatening the secular fabric of the country. With violence and mistrust being spread in the name of religion and politics, the setting up of harmony clubs and forums, the commission hopes, will foster communal harmony, religious tolerance and respect among the various religious groups in the southern State. The commission will organise training programme to prepare teachers and lecturers to serve as animators for these clubs. As a first step in this direction, about twenty teachers / lecturers, two each from ten schools and colleges in and around the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, "who are capable of assisting in the formation and animation of interfaith Harmony Clubs", participated in the daylong workshop held for the animators in the Hyderabad Archdiocesan Social Service Society Training Centre, Secunderabad, September 23. In his inaugural speech at the programme, chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Minority Commission, Yusuf Qureshi, underlined the "dire need to fight the designs of the vested groups that are bent upon dividing the communities for promoting their power and privileges". Jesuit Father J. Pakiaraj, consultor for the APBC Commission for Dialogue, explained the various aspects of interfaith life and activities in the educational institutions as spelt out in the CBCI guidelines for Interreligious Dialogue. Regional secretary/director of APBC Commission for Dialogue, Father Anthoniraj Thumma listed the objectives and functions of "The Assisi Decalogue for Peace" and "the Note on the Harmony Clubs". The ways and means of promoting values of peace and harmony in the classroom environment by teachers was explained by Brahmakumari Sister Anjali. She also conducted shanti yoga meditation for the participants. Present on the occasion was Father M.D. Thomas, the national secretary/director, CBCI Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue and Harmony. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org 9822122436 +91-832-240-9490 http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/ _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
