9th Anniversary of URI's Charter Signing.
Celebration in Pakistan
Dear URI community
We read of the daily acts of violence and terror in the news in places such as Pakistan, Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Congo and many others. It is such a privilege to be part of the URI community where we can also read reports like this one of the grasssroots actions by CCs that are making a positive difference - often in these very same countries.
Thank you to Yuel Bhatti for this report and to all participants in Pakistan who contribute everyday in these practical and essential ways to serve URI's purpose in the midst of fears and hardships.
URI members in Pakistan strengthen the URI global community with this celebration of URI's Charter! This report connects their practical achievements for positive social change with URI's Charter values and purpose. Charter words are empowering and enabling these kinds of actions; the actions give meaning to the words of the Charter. People across religious differences working together - are true agents of change!
Recently, President Obama showcased several people around the world by awarding them 'Agents of Change' awards. While this list of luminaries was indeed impressive, people in the URI community are also important agents of change - moving often in seemingly small ways - but as we move together and over the years - the accumulated actions are becoming a significant global force for good.
Let us take a moment to join in spirit with this gathering in Pakistan and graciously say - Happy 9th Birthday URI!
With joy,
Sally
Sally Mahé
Director, Organizational Development
United Religions Initiative
1 415 561 2300
Dear URI Family,
The URI Regional office Pakistan celebrated 9th Anniversary of URI'S Charter signing on 26th June 2009 evening in great joy and happiness.
Selected participants were invited including ladies and gents of different faith.
The program was started with interfaith prayers. Rev.Emmanuel Khokhar Christian faith and Muhammad Rasheed Ahmed from Muslim faith. Although Hindu and Paris faith reached late as they were in other Program.
Mr. Yuel Bhatti, Executive Secretary welcome all the Guests and introduced about the program and reflect some high lighted of URI Global and URI Pakistan's achievements and recall the days when Bishop William Sewing and Rev. Charles Gibbs visit in starting URI in Pakistan. In 9 Years many achievements and success of URI, as now working in 70 Countries around 410 cooperation circles around the world is big achievements and affiliation with United Nations is great. In Pakistan 37 Cooperation Circles from Karachi to Khbair and Azad Kashmir.
Sr. Sabina Riffat, Coordinator Women Desk URI Pakistan reflects some high lights on the URI Pakistan Women Desk and upcoming activities.
She also read out the message of Rev. Charles Gibbs Executive Director
express:
"Dear friends, Happy 9th Anniversary!
Greetings of love and peace on the 9th Anniversary of URI's Charter Signing.
Where ever you are, whatever you are doing, I pray the URI Preamble, Purpose and Principles burn a little brighter for you this day and in the days to come inspire you to continue making the words of the Charter a living reality in your life and through the work of your Cooperation Circle"
Fr. James Channan OP Regional Coordinator for Asia/Pakistan to day he is in New York USA and sent his message he express. The Message was read out by Mr. Yuel Bhatti.
"Dear Yuel Bhatti, Sr. Sabina and all other URI members gathered for the celebration of 9th Birthday of URI... I congratulate each one of you who have gathered to celebrate this day. It is so wonderful to see that now URI has spread all around the world with a message of peace, interfaith harmony, healing, reconciliation and justice. URI is making its presence known and it has become the fastest growing organization in the world
I also congratulate in a very special way to Bishop E. William Swing so saw the dream of URI and of bringing people of various religions together to promote dialogue among religions and cultures at all
levels of life. This dream is becoming a reality around the world.
Long Live Bishop Swing! (Bishop Swing Zindabad!)
It is also a matter of great joy that this year Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad is elected as URI Global Trustee for Asia. Mr. Yuel Bhatti is serving as an Executive Secretary, Sr. Sabina Riffat as Coordinator of URI Women Desk Pakistan, we have launched URIPAKISTAN website and publish URI "Umang" newsletter regularly. These are the sings of growth and maturity. Yes we UNITE!
Aap Sab Ko URI ki Salgira Mubarak Ho! (Happy Birthday of URI to
every one) I am missing you to be present with you in person. However, I am with you in spirit! May URI live long and have thousands of such
celebrations! (James Channan OP)
All participants read out Principal of URI Charter.
The Guest shares their views about URI Pakistan.
Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, Congratulate the URI family on its 9th Birth day and said that in the Leadership of Fr. James Channan OP the URI Pakistan is growing fastly for spreading the message of Interfaith harmony among the religions in present situation we have to come forward to spread the message of URI. I am thankful Mr. Yuel Bhatt mostly organized peace and harmony program in our church. I pray for URI for more strong in spreading the message of love and Peace.
Mr. Ernest Fahim said, that URI vision is great and spreading the message of love and peace is marvelous we also share with our school children and must impressed with dedication of Fr. James Channan OP, Yuel Bhatti and Sr.Sabina Riffat.
Muhammad Rasheed (Educationist) Said "It in great joy for me that I am in specially occasion when URI family is celebrating the 9th Birthday many congratulations to all. We will start the URI Mission in our school.
Ms. Parveen Sujal said "It is my spiritually satisfaction that all faith gathered for celebration 9th Anniversary of URI's Charter Signing. We must respect each other religion and respect the human values.
Rev. Niamat Amjad said that URI Pakistan is in leading roll for prompting interfaith peace and harmony we have to come forward with its vision to spread in out reach areas I mean in villages and underprivileged communities.
Miss Sajada Rose (Young Leader) although I am new in URI but so much impressed with work of URI Pakistan for promoting religious harmony and young generation may come forward for promotion of peacebuilding.
On 30 May 2009 I attended the Interfaith Youth Seminar organized by the some group (CCs) of URI in Youhanabad, Lahore. The event was inspiring for youth so I joined the URI.
Mr. Aslam expressing his view that URI Pakistan is promoting interfaith harmony in grassroots level in human development project is inspiring.
Pastor Asif Arthur, Young Leader expresses some high light on the distribution of URI Relief to all faith in Mardan is true example of religious harmony and thanks all who contribute in relief package.
Dr. Kanwal Feroze said, I am among the pioneer member of URI in Pakistan. With Fr. James we struggled hard in long journey of URI but in short period of 9 year the results are outstanding. Many congratulations on the Birthday of URI.
In poetry He said" What is ever the religion you adopt -but respect the Humanity.
Cake Cutting ceremony was held by the participants with j and share the cake each other.
Rev. Niamat Amjad blessed the food and world peace all joined in festival Dinner of eve of URI 9th Birthday. May URI long live!
May Peace Prevail in Pakistan!
May Peace Prevail on Earth!
Yuel Bhatti
Executive Secretary
URI Sub-Region Pakistan
www.uripakistan.org
