11th Annual Philadelphia Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Sunday, April 27, 2014
Side by Side on Sacred Ground: Celebrating Transformations
2:30 pm / Walkers arrive and enter the respective Women’s and Men’s mosque areas.
2:45 pm / Chanting by Imam Muhammad Shehata, Al Aqsa Mosque, as people enter the mosque.
Women’s Program
3:00 pm / Welcome to Al Aqsa and talk on peace in the Muslim tradition by Amna Ahmad, Al Aqsa Mosque, and Adab Ibrahim, Peace Walk co-founder
3:05 pm / “We the Poets” poetry with ArtWell youth leaders
3:10 pm / Talk on the ministries of The Catholic Worker and St. Francis Inn by Johanna Berrigan, House of Grace Catholic Worker, and Tammy Kinney, Franciscan volunteer minister
3:14 pm / Logistics of the Interfaith Peace Walk by Cross & Crescent / Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
Men’s Program
3:00 pm / Welcome to Al Aqsa and talk on peace in the Muslim tradition by Abdullah Ibrahim and Imam Muhammad Shehata, Al Aqsa Mosque
3:05 pm / “We the Poets” poetry with ArtWell youth leaders
3:10 pm / Talk on the ministries of St. Francis Inn and The Catholic Worker by Fr. Steven Patti, OFM,
and Peter Pedemonti, Director, Philadelphia New Sanctuary Movement
3:14 pm / Logistics of the Interfaith Peace Walk by Cross & Crescent / Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
3:17 pm / Chanting by Imam Muhammad Shehata, Al Aqsa Mosque / transmitted to Women’s section
3:22 pm / All leave the mosque grounds together and walk to St. Francis Inn
St. Francis Inn – 2441 Kensington Avenue (19125)
4:02 pm / Enter the courtyard of St. Francis Inn
4:10 pm / Welcome by Fr. Michael Duffy, OFM, St. Francis Inn
4:13 pm / Word on House of Grace Catholic Worker Clinic by Johanna Berrigan, Physician Assistant at the Clinic
4:15 pm / Music by Tammy Kinney and Timothy Quinn, Franciscan volunteer ministers
4:21 pm / Leave the St. Francis Inn grounds (as music continues) and walk to W. Kensington Ministry
West Kensington Ministry – 2140 North Hancock Street (19122)
4:41 pm / Enter the church (and Second Floor Sanctuary) to music by Mishkan Shalom Choir, Miriam Davidson, Director
4:50 pm / Call to Asr prayers by Imam Muhammad Shehata, Al Aqsa Mosque [written translation in program]
4:53 pm / Welcome by Rev. Adan Mairena, West Kensington Ministry
4:56 pm / Peace reflection from the Jewish tradition by Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Mishkan Shalom
5:01 pm / Chanting of a Hindu prayer by Divya Arya, Intercultural Youth Council
5:05 pm / Intention of the Peace Walk and offering request by Vic Compher, Peace Walk co-founder
5:08 pm / Sikh shabad (hymn) from Shri Guru Granth Sahib by Sikh community youth members
5:14 PM / Reflections by Walking the Walk youth with Marjorie Scharf, Director, Youth Initiatives, Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia and youth members from the Northwest Walking the Walk network
5:20 PM / Asr prayers led by Imam Muhammad Shehata, Al Aqsa Mosque
5:30 PM / Closing Remarks and Invitation to Food and Fellowship by Linda Toia and Pam Yaller
5:33 PM / Food and Fellowship in the Social Hall
Welcome and General Instructions
We welcome everyone to this Interfaith Walk for Peace and Reconciliation. Please see the following general instructions:
1.This Walk is a spiritual event. Please respectfully enter and leave each house of prayer in communal singing or silence (we will use an extended hand "V" signal to request group silence, as appropriate). Please also refrain from displaying any political signs.
2.People with colored armbands will be present as guides and ushers and available to answer any questions about Walk logistics.
3.Please proceed to each location as a single group.
4.Rest rooms will be available at each location.
5.A bus will be available to transport anyone needing assistance, and medics will be available to treat anyone needing attention during the Walk. Contact a guide or usher if required.
6.The times listed below are estimates and may vary based upon the conditions of the day.
7.If you are interested in follow-up activities, please sign the participants' sheets available from the guides/ ushers during the Walk -- or contact us at .
For additional information, see: .
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Interfaith Peace Walk
MISSION: To facilitate peace, justice and reconciliation by engaging faith groups and other communities in dialogue, reflection, action and an annual Interfaith Peace Walk.
VISION: To nurture a transformative process of reflection, relationship-building and action among faith
and secular groups working toward peace and justice through periodic dialogues about challenging issues; community service; outreach to religious and ethnic groups experiencing intolerance or persecution; and an annual Peace Walk.
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Protocol at Al Aqsa Islamic Center
Women’s and men’s programs will be in separate rooms in the mosque. To respect the Muslim tradition, please dress modestly, including covering arms and legs. Women are asked to wear head coverings, which will be available at the mosque for those who need them.
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Talking Your Walk: Questions for Interfaith Conversation
While walking from Al Aqsa Mosque to St. Francis Inn:
- Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.
- Ask the person why s/he decided to come to today’s Interfaith Peace Walk.
- Share what is the most important thing you want other to know about your faith tradition.
While walking from St. Francis Inn to West Kensington Ministry:
- Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.
- Ask the person what s/he enjoys doing for fun.
- Discuss in what ways, if any, your beliefs have changed over the years.
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Transport: Walkers are encouraged to park in the Al Aqsa Islamic Society parking lot (adjacent to the mosque).
A bus will be available to transport drivers of cars parked at Al Aqsa back to the mosque from West Kensington Ministry at the end of the Peace Walk program (starting at approximately 5:30 pm)—and during the during and after the “Food and Fellowship” part thereafter.
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Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to help support the work of the Interfaith Peace Walk.
Checks may be made out to: Tabernacle United Church (memo line: Interfaith Peace Walk) and can be placed in the basket or mailed to: Tabernacle Church, 37th and Chestnut Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19104 – Attention: Peace Walk.
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