The five Northern Ireland delegates at UK Bahá’í National Convention, Llalndudno. May 2008. From left: Tony Sherwani, Iain Palin, James Holmlund, Eddie Whiteside, Edwin Grham.
Marion Khosravi writes:
In February I was fortunate to have a long week-end in Paris. (It has taken me a little while to put pen to paper!). This is a beautiful city with a rich Bahá'í history. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited the city three times. The National Spiritual Assembly of France acquired the apartment on the Avenue des Camoens, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed for a period of time in 1911. Guided visits are available by contacting the NSA. We were able to see the reception rooms where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave talks and received visitors and also His personal room where one could reflect and pray.
The apartment is a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower: in one of the Bahá’í books there is a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and some friends at the bottom of the tower. There is also a very small park here where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would take a daily walk sometimes by Himself and sometimes with the friends. As we left the apartment, in the dusk, and went towards the Eiffel Tower we were treated to a display of lights flashing up and down the Tower - magical. Apparently on the hour these lights come on for five or ten minutes.
Also in this area there is the Cimetiere De Passy where Laura Barney is buried. This is quite an old cemetery surrounded by a very high wall. Unfortunately we set off in the wrong direction to find the entrance and by the time we got in it was about ten minutes to closing! However with directions and a lot of luck we found the grave and managed to say a prayer just before we were asked to leave.
To the north of Paris there is yet another cemetery, Cimetiere Parisien de Pantin, where Thomas Breakwell was interred and there is a monument to him. This time the monument was much easier to find as the cemetery is laid out in a grid system. At the small reception hut we were given the exact location. It was interesting and moving to also have with us the small book about the life of Thomas Breakwell.
We had a lovely few days made all the more meaningful by being able to visit these three special places. We became expert map readers and metro travellers! I would thoroughly recommend a visit.
Cameron Gornall recently represented the Faith at a youth multi-faith weekend in Corrymeela
I wasn’t really looking forward to the Interfaith weekend, it just felt like something I had to do. However in the journey up to Corrymeela, I started to worry about what it was going to turn out like. I knew that it was going to start off with that game where someone throws a ball to some poor soul who then has to say his name and where he’s from. Thankfully, that didn’t happen, because I was not in the mood for explaining where Magherafelt is.
The volunteers in Corrymeela were really down to earth and obviously loved what they were doing. In the group there were two Muslim boys (both friends), two English girls who didn’t have any particularly strong religious beliefs (and were also good friends) and one Bahá'í , who knew absolutely no one. Luckily the other two boys were quick to bond, and were really respectful to everyone, so at least I wasn’t on my own anymore, I must have somehow convinced them that I was cool. What I was most impressed with was the diversity of the centre. There were people from South America and the USA, Sweden, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, England and Germany. That’s what made the place unique.
Luckily the other two boys were quick to bond, and were really respectful to everyone, so at least I wasn’t on my own anymore, I must have somehow convinced them that I was cool. What I was most impressed with was the diversity of the centre. There were people from South America and the USA, Sweden, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, England and Germany. That’s what made the place unique.
The website for the Association of Bahá'í Women (Northern Ireland) has been revised and updated. It now offers resource material suitable for use by both Bahá'ís and non-Bahá'ís, in the form of courses helping the empowerment of women. The site can accessed by clicking www.bahai.org.uk/abw_ni
Omagh community recently held a Bring and Buy and lunch to raise money for the National Fund. We would like to thank our dear friends from Londonderry, Magherafelt and Letterkenny for coming along and supporting us on the day. Although our numbers were small we all had a lovely time together and raised £486 for the Fund.
RJ
Ms Sara Donaghy of Ballymena, who has declared her faith in Bahá'u'lláh and been enrolled in the Bahá'í community.
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