Pandit Dwejendra Doobay (London Hindu Cultural Centre) at the Noon-hour Lenten Speakers Series at St. Paul's Cathedral.
This Lent, St. Paul’s Cathedral reentered the world of the noon-hour Lenten Speaker Series.
Each Wednesday in Lent an average of fifty folks gathered at St Paul’s for a series entitled Servanthood and Sacrifice: A Cross Cultural & Interfaith Discussion. Speakers included Rabbi Debra Dressler (Temple Israel), Pandit Dev Doobay (Hindu Temple), Archdeacon Sam Thomas (recounting life as a minority Christian in Kerela, India), Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal (the Canadian Council of Imams), Sarvarinder Dohil (Guru Nank Mission Society - a Sikh outreach community that has served over 50,000 meals to the hungry), and Kwaku Asumadu, (Ghanaian Christian Pastor and theology student at Huron University College.)
A vegetarian lunch was served after each presentation compliments of The Guru Nank Society and Mint Leaves Indian Kitchen.
Hearing about servanthood and sacrifice from across so many traditions was an incredibly enriching experience for all who attended. From Hindu practice of fasting Ekadashi, to the Muslim observance of Ramadan, to Lenten practices across the globe, to the observance of Yom Kippur, to the Sikh practice of Seva, it was clear to all present that the world’s major religions all hold at their core the importance of serving others selflessly.
Each session ended with a robust Question and Answer period.
The event was sponsored by the St Paul’s ACW. Everyone involved expressed an interest in continuing the conversation.
Very Rev. Kevin George