Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

Education & Dialogue

The Interfaith Center offers a number of interfaith education and dialogue programs to the greater Philadelphia community. Each program presented by the Center will be tailored to the needs of the community or group desiring such services. These programs can be made available to a single faith community or to multi-religious groups.

Encountering Other Faiths: An Adult Education Series

This program consists of a series of discussion sessions that enable participants of religious communities to:

• Share the faith expressions they live by;
• Assess their encounters with people from other traditions;
• Understand the meaning of dialogue and discover common ground;
• Explore the many avenues of interreligious collaboration.

In addition to discussing the above items in the sessions, participants will also be given tools that will enable them to more confidently enter into dialogue with people of other faiths.

One tool for assisting those interested in entering into interreligious engagement is the recently published Workbook for Encountering Other Faiths by Maria Hornung, MMS. This workbook is available online for free; download the workbook in pdf format. To order hard copies of the workbook, please email our Office Manager Rebecca at rr@interfaithcenterpa.org. The workbook costs $5 per copy (this includes shipping) or $3 per copy when you order 10 or more workbooks (this price does not include shipping).

Encountering Other Faiths, Sr. Maria Hornung’s new book, which is published by Paulist Press, can be ordered at the Paulist Press website.

Religious Communities of Our Region

The Interfaith Center offers a number of opportunities for communities to learn more about different religious traditions. These opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• Beliefs, values and practices of one or more religious traditions;
• Sacred texts, worship and history of one or more religious communities in our region;
• The diverse spiritual and cultural traditions of adherents of a particular religious community;
• Opportunities to visit faith communities to experience worship services, holidays and festivals, etc.

Interfaith Dialogue

This six-session series of face-to-face discussions among lay members of neighboring religious communities is offered in conjunction with the Philadelphia Archdiocese’s Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. The series consists of:

• An open and non-judgmental forum for rich dialogue among 15-20 participants;
• An opportunity for participants to share their own religious practices, beliefs and family/community traditions, as well as to ask questions of one another;
• A session in which clergy from the participating religious communities meet with participants and respond to their questions.

Leadership Skills Training

All of the Interfaith Center’s programs are designed to enhance interfaith dialogue and collaboration in the 21st century. The Interfaith Center places a high priority on the training of facilitators for:

• Encountering Other Faiths Series
• Educational programs and text-based learning;
• Dialogue facilitation and deep listening skills;
• Addressing controversial issues and creative conflict resolution.

Training workshops are developed by the Center staff, often in conjunction with the expertise of other local groups. Leadership training sessions are tailored to the needs of interested constituencies.

Upcoming Interfaith Education Offerings

If you are interested in one of the following presentations or series, please contact Maria Hornung at 215-222-1012 or meh@interfaithcenterpa.org.

A United Approach to Spiritual Growth
New Jerusalem Now Men’s Group, Philadelphia
September 18th, September 25th, October 2nd, October 9th, October 16th, October 23rd, October 30th

Encountering Other Faiths I
Our Lady of Hope, Broad Street, Philadelphia
Cluster 19 Catholic Congregations
August 26th , September 2nd, September 9th, September 16th, September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th

Encountering Other Faiths I
St. Isaac Jogues, Wayne, PA
Cluster 53 Catholic Congregations
September 20th, September 27th, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th, October 25th

Encountering Other Faiths II
The Peace Walk, Philadelphia
October 14th, October 21st, October 28th, November 4th, November 11th

Encountering Other Faiths I
Federal Detention Center Women’s Group
Fall 2008

Encountering Other Faiths I
Adults of the Walking the Walk Congregations, West Philadelphia
November 16th, December 14th, January 11th, March 1st, March 15th

Encountering Other Faiths I
Adults of the Walking the Walk Congregations, Suburban West
December 14th, January 11th, February 15th, March 1st, March 15th

Introductions to the Encountering Other Faiths Series
Short presentations at seminaries, college/universities, congregations
Throughout fall 2008 and  spring 2009, contact the Interfaith Center to arrange a presentation at your site in Southeastern Pennsylvania or Southern New Jersey

Theological Exploration from an Interfaith Perspective for Christians, Jews, and Muslims
Medical Missions Sisters
September, November 2008

Encountering Other Faiths
Presentations and processes tailored for Alternative Spring Break programs
Spring 2009
Contact the Interfaith Center to arrange presentations or discoveries for student groups

Training for Facilitating the Encountering Other Faiths Series
Conduct your own seminar using user-friendly material
Spring 2009 dates TBA
Contact the Interfaith Center if you are interested in this facilitators’ training

Daughters of Abraham
Women leaders of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths study and enjoy fellowship
Fall 2008 and Spring 2009