CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 69 - 4 Jamál 159 BE - 1 May 2002 CE

ASSOCIATION OF BAHÁ'Í WOMEN

ABW (Coleraine)

The Association of Bahá'í Women ( Coleraine) has been very active in establishing contact and networking with local women and religious groups in the area. Dialogue and sharing has been established with Corimeela - Coleraine and the Women's Center in Abbey Street. One such event was the celebration of International Women's Day. This was organized by ABW (Coleraine). was sponsored by the Coleraine Borough Council, and attended by women from sixteen countries, including India, Japan, China, Phillipines, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy and Australia. The Mayor of Coleraine commending the organization of such important events "which contribute to a more peaceful and equal society" and stressed the need to live together in harmony treasuring our diversity. The Corrimela-Coleraine group invited two ABW members to organize the devotional part of their November meeting. Prayers of all the world's Faiths were selected to stress the principle of basic harmony of all religions. This rapport and sharing between ABW and Corrimela is ongoing. At Corrimela's March meeting there was an opportunity to talk about the Holy Land stressing the common roots of all revealed religions and progressive revelation. On 8 March 2002 the Women's Center of Abbey Street, Coleraine invited an ABW member to contribute to their celebration of Women's Day by reading her poems and short stories about women. The women present at the event, mainly battered women, were moved to tears by the readings. The emotional response of the participants at the event underlines the necessity for Bahá'ís to connect with non-Bahá'ís through the heart. We can reach the hearts of women with the universal needs of hope and freedom from despair.

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