During this month of Ramadan, the annual month of fasting for Muslims, I thought I would provide a brief explanation of Ramadan and its meaning in Islam.

Saber Alkilany of our Afiiliate Member The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences provided this Power Point Presentation from More On Islam. It gives a lot of information about the interesting spiritual practice of Ramadan.

Today from 2-7 pm, the Faculties Convocation will be held at the Washington Theological Union. Faculty are welcome to arrive late/ leave early during this extended program

Directions are here: http://www.wtu.edu/about/Directions.htm

See you soon!

Friends:

I have had a busy time recently.
Preparations for the meeting of the Council of Academic Deans
and for the Consortium Faculties' Convocation--both next Monday--
have kept me on the move. The Convocation theme--The Arts and
Religious Experience--has stimulated great interest.

Of course there are thousands of last minute details
but I am looking forward to a fine day.

Peace,
John

Dr. John Yieh of VTS gave a marvelous homily at the New Student Orientation last Monday.

Read it here.

Friends:

The annual Consortium Ecumenical Orientation for new students took place yesterday afternoon and evening. We began with a prayer service in the beautiful Caldwell Chapel at Catholic University [4:45]. Father James Wiseman, Associate Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, greeted the students on behalf of Dean Kevin Irwin.

Interim Chairman of the Consortium Student Board Steven Bell welcomed the students and introduced the members of the Board who were present.

I pointed out to the students that this ecumenical orientation was experiential--praying ogether, meeting people, sharing ideas, learning about Catholic religious houses, ....

The service itself was the equal of any I have experienced in my 10 years as Executive Director. The singing was enthusiastic. The proclamation of the Word was most clear. Dr. John Yieh's sermon was outstanding [we will be posting his text next week].

After prayer, guest students dispersed to eleven Catholic religious houses in the area for dinner
and discussion.

The initial reports I have received from participants have been more numerous than previous years. Several individuals stopped me as they were returning to their buses to indicate their enthusiasm--and how much they had learned.

I certainly was gratified.

-Ecumenism is rooted in prayer.
-It progresses in friendship and mutual sharing.
-Yesterday we made a good beginning in this new school year.

Peace,
John

The Third European Ecumenical Assembly is underway in Romania.

Below, from the Assembly's website, are links to document files of the opening remarks of dignitaries and denominational leaders:

TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER - GREETINGS
The Very Revd. Margarethe Isberg (EN)
H.E. Cardinal Josip Bozanic (EN)
H.E. Metropolitan Dr. Laurentiu Streza(RO) (EN)
H.E. Bishop D. Dr. Christoph Klein (EN)
H.E. Mgr. Dr. György Jakubinyi (HU) (EN)
His Excellency Klaus Johannis, Mayor of Sibiu (EN)

WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2007 - MEDITATION/GREETINGS
His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (EN)(DT) (IT)
Revd Anthony Peck (DT)
Magister Evelina Martelli (DT)
His Excellency Trajan Băsescu, President of Romania (RO) (EN) (FR) (DT)
Ms. Monika Heitz (EN) (FR) (DT) (RO)
His Eminence Cardinal Péter Erdö (EN) (IT) (FR) (DT)
Revd. Jean-Arnold de Clermont (FR) (EN) (DT) (IT)
His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel (RO) (EN)
His Excellency Ioan Robu (RO)
Bishop László Tõkés (EN) (FR) (DT) (IT)
His Eminence Cardinal Walter Kasper (EN) (FR) (DT) (IT) (RO)
His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill (EN) (DT) (FR)
Bishop Dr. Wolfgang Huber (DT) (EN) (FR)
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (DT) (EN) (FR) (IT) (RO)
Revd Dr. Samuel Kobia (EN) (FR)