15 March Commemoration
A Statement and Prayer made available to the Australian community for this sad occasion by Religions for Peace Australia, the Islamic Council of Victoria and members of other Australian Islamic groups.
People of faith are encouraged to pray, meditate or reflect on this massacre according to their own tradition. In offering this prayer below it is recognised that it may or may not suit your tradition.
STATEMENT from Religions for Peace Australia (RfPA):
Sunday, March 15th will be the first anniversary of the Christchurch massacre at two of its mosques of 51 people (47 males, 4 females). The perpetrator was an Australian. Thus, the day will be an occasion for both sister nations of New Zealand and Australia to come together in grief to commemorate and remember this atrocity and to draw strength and generate togetherness. We ask religious communities in accordance with their own spiritual traditions to ask the divine for comfort, compassion and hope. The following prayer has been composed as one way of remembering this sad occasion:
PRAYER for COMFORT, STRENGTH AND RECOVERY
O God of many names, O Lord of hope and resilience, Most merciful and compassionate God,
As we remember the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch massacre and the devastation brought upon our Muslim neighbours in New Zealand by an Australian perpetrator.
We grieve for the devastation and loss of the 51 victims and we weep with your people, hearing the cries of orphaned children and the laments of bereaved partners, overwhelmed by the enormity of what happened in Christchurch.
In recognizing the many needs of peoples across the world, as people of faith, we ask for the help, compassion and comfort that only the divine can bring in times of crisis and deep sorrow.
As people of faith, we pray for the hope that can lead us onward in opening up through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace in our nations and across the world
As people of faith, in Your name of mercy and healing and compassion, we pray.
ACTIONS:
As a way of showing compassion, hope and solidarity RfPA ask if you could possibly send an email to the Prime Minster of New Zealand, Jacinta Adern- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and inform her of your religious communities’ prayers or related actions.
Other known related activities:
Victoria: The Islamic Community of Victoria has announced (https://www.icv.org.au/home/icv-victorian-mosque-open-day-2020/) mosques will be open on the 15th. Prayers will be held at 1pm for the victims and families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
Tasmania: Religions for Peace Tasmania will join with the Tasmanian Muslim Association and the Hobart Muslim for a commemoration of the Christchurch massacre. This will be held on Sunday 15th March 2020 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Hobart Mosque, 166 Warwick Street, West Hobart (http://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/).
South Australia: The Multifaith Assoc. of SA, Religions for Peace will support the Memorial Session for the Victims of the Christchurch Mosque Massacre being held at the Al Salam Community Centre 658 Marion Rd, Park Holme SA 2.30 pm Sunday the 15th of March 2020. Contact the Islamic Society of SA
https://www.facebook.com/Islamic.Society.SA/photos/a.211880892156301/3116224575055237/?type=3&theater
Religions for Peace Australia is a global, community-based organisation working for global peace across the world and for social cohesion in Australia in other countries, and for peace and co-operation between the religions of the world. It works for an understanding of the benefits that religion and religious moderation brings to society and works against religiously based extremism that is violent. Religions for Peace Australia has affiliates and branches in all states of Australia. http://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/
