Editor:
As women in the Women’s Spirituality Circle, we are deeply affected by the recent attack at the mosque in Quebec City and by the increasing feelings of fear and lack of safety growing in our community and country.
We would like to take this opportunity to voice our support for those who are grieving, who are marginalized, and who feel fear because of their religion, culture, or race.
We are women from many spiritual paths: Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, nature-based, First Nations, love-based ... who believe in unity, learning from and supporting each other.
We have found acceptance, comfort, and friendship by sharing the spiritual traditions and practices that offer us meaning, direction, and hope.
Part of our purpose is to help reduce attitudes and incidences of racism, violence and intolerance in our world by nurturing and supporting peaceful relationships in our community.
So now we raise our voices.
For those who are feeling unsafe or isolated or pushed to the side: we are here.
We accept all cultures and spiritual paths.
We stand for peace and inclusion in our society.
We seek to create a safe and welcoming community and invite others to join the circle.
This Friday at noon, the traditional time of the week when Muslims gather to pray in community, we are joining with the Williams Lake Interfaith Circle, the Women’s Contact Society, and the Canadian Mental Health Association in a public vigil for peace to stand in mourning, solidarity, and friendship with our Muslim friends and neighbours, to state clearly that we choose and will work for peace in our world.
In the name of peace, please join us at city hall at noon on Friday.
For more information, call 250-305-4426.
Margaret-Anne Enders, Eva Navrot, Maggie Ranger, The Rev. Kristen Dobyns, Lindsey Bifford, Rylee Smith, Thea Fast, Angie Holdal, women of the Women’s Spirituality Circle