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IGR Community News
Announcements, Newsletters & Activities
IGR members are connected to many different religious, spiritual, ethnic, and cultural groups, and love to share what’s happening in their communities. Check out our new Community News section to see events and activities shared by IGR members!
Please note that while all events and activities posted on the Community Events blog are submitted by Interfaith Grand River members, they are not necessarily endorsed, supported by, or vetted by Interfaith Grand River as an organization.
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Parliament of the World's Religions Statement on Interfaith Responsibility in a Time of Rising Authoritarianism
Around the world, communities are witnessing a troubling rise in fear‑based governance, shrinking civic space, and the targeting of vulnerable groups. These developments are not isolated events, nor are they confined to one nation or community. They remind us that injustice grows when silence replaces solidarity. In the face of systemic cruelty counter to the values fundamental to all religions, and to the democratic ideals to which the United States has long aspired - we wil
Feb 12
Hearts of Freedom Book Launch
You are invited to celebrate the courage and resilience of refugees at the Hearts of Freedom Book Launch, Sunday, February 15, 2-4 pm at the First Hmong Mennonite Church, 93 Doon Rd. Kitchener. More than 210,000 refugees fled South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to settle in Canada between 1975 and 1997. At this event, hear about refugee experiences and groundbreaking resettlement through author readings by Michael J. Molloy and Peter Duchinsky. Also, learn about Canada’s current
Feb 12
Catholic Chaplaincy Resources
About Roman Catholic Christianity The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination. There are between 1.27 and 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. The Church consists of 24 autonomous churches: the Latin (Roman, or Western) Church, which is the largest and most familiar here in Canada, and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches. Together, they comprise around 3,500 dioceses and eparchies around the world, each overseen by one or more bishops. The Pope
Jan 30
January 2026 Newsletter
If you missed our January 2026 newsletter, you can check it out at the link below:
Jan 22
Thinking In Lyrics (January)
by Jan Hansen I often find myself thinking in song lyrics. This is one in a series of short articles about some songs and a few of the thoughts that they prompt in me. None of these songs were written for a faith-based setting, but all of them have some elements that relate to faith, philosophy, or world view. Another Way to Cry (Justin Hines) I love the idea that some of the things that we do are ways that we act out because of the wounds inside us, that they are “just a
Jan 22
Interfaith Summer Camp 2026 – Call for Contributors
by Rev Kalubowila Ananda Thero Interfaith Grand River, in collaboration with Lake Monastery, is pleased to announce the planning of an Interfaith Summer Camp for children on July 13th-17th, 2026. The camp will welcome children aged 7–12 and 13–16 for a five-day experience focused on peace, kindness, service, nature, and mindfulness. Rather than teaching religion, the program will create opportunities for young people to meet, learn from, and build friendships across faith tr
Jan 22
The Golden Thread in Our Faith Journeys
by Rev Kalubowila Ananda Thero In our recent reflection session, participants explored four simple questions: the Spark , the Desert , the Evolution , and the Anchor . Though the stories were deeply personal and wonderfully diverse, something quietly familiar began to emerge. Many of us first encountered meaning through moments of wonder. In nature, in kindness, in silence, or in being truly seen. Most of us also knew seasons of doubt, dryness, or loss, times that stripped
Jan 22
Encounter World Religions New Winter Series
Our friends at Encounter World Religions are hosting a learning series called Sound, Spaces, and Celebrations – The Feel of the World's Religions Summary: In this series, we will explore how we experience the world’s religions with our senses. Together we will encounter soundscapes, sacred spaces, the experiences of key holidays that mark festivities and remembrance, and learn how adherents learn from and use their sacred texts. Each of these talks will explore the richness o
Jan 22
Join the Winter Interfaith Event Subcommittee!
by Jeff Wilson Hello IGRers, I would like to invite you to join in planning a cool new event. At Jay Moore’s suggestion, we’re putting together an interfaith forum at Martin Luther University College, in Waterloo. The idea is to hold an on-campus event to bring IGR closer to our large regional student population, showcase diverse religious voices, and hold an event that will be meaningful to the community. Tentatively, we’re exploring the idea of a forum on religion and envir
Jan 22
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