UUֱ

two hands cupped open toward the sky

My Neighbour's Faith

Several times each school year, UUֱ students are invited to join MORSL at a local religious or spiritual site, such as a synagogue, mosque,gurdwara, temple, cathedral, etc.

Visits are advertised on our website, in our newsletter and on . Registration (free) is required via myInvolvement for each event.

Students who attend any one of the My Neighbour's Faith visits will receive co-curricular recognition through !

ᾱٴǰCircle of religion and faith divided into 8 equal parts with symbols of religions and faith as well as a question mark in the different parts.

In 2008, Sikh volunteer and later MORSL director Manjit Singh developed our "My Neighbour's Faith" program - a series of monthly visits to various sacred sites around Montreal. A tour of the location and an observation of a religious ceremony is usually followed by a discussion period and refreshments.

Upcoming Visits

Watch for upcoming events and register to attend on!


My Neighbour's Faith Yearly Archive

View past events by year: 2023-2024 | 2022-2023 |2019-2020 | 2018-2019 | 2017-2018

My Neighbour's Faith 2023-2024

Event Date Details
Labyrinth Walk - Mtl West United Apr. 11, 2024 (1:15pm-5:45pm) Join MORSL and Concordia's MFSC in experiencing a labyrinth walk. Montreal West United Church has hosted an indoor labyrinth walk for many years and has recently built an outdoor labyrinth. Labyrinths are walking meditations found in many traditions; theirs is modeled after the one in Charters Cathedral in France. During this outing, we'll walk the labyrinth and learn about this ancient practice and how it fits with the church's other observances.Event Details
Visit to the Khadija Centre Mosque Mar. 27, 2024 (4:45pm-9:00pm) Join MORSL and Concordia’s MFSC as we visit the Khadijah Center Mosque. We’ll discuss the tenets of Islam and Ramadan, a month of fasting, communal gathering, and spiritual development celebrated by Muslims around the world. Following the evening prayer, we will join the community as they break their fast with an iftar.Event Details
Visit to the Brahm Bunga Mar. 23, 2024 (4:30pm-7:30pm) Join fellow students in experiencing a typical Saturday evening at a Sikh gurudwara (also called bunga) in Brossard, on Montreal's South Shore. We will visit the gurudwara, meet with community members and share in a vegetarian meal (langar) around 6:30 PM. You will need Zone A/B tickets ($9.00 for two) to ride the REM.Event Details
Visit to the Shambala Centre Feb. 19, 2024 (4:00pm-7:00pm) Come learn about Buddhism at the, a community that's been in Montreal for more than 50 years. We'll be welcomed and invited to join a short meditation, then learn about Shambala and their contemplative practices. We'll tour their centre and finish with conversation over tea and cookies. We will meet at MORSL (3610 McTavish room 36-2) and travel together by metro. Please be on time and bring a metro ticket or pass with you. The Shambala Centre is wheelchair accessible.Event Details
Visit to the CIIC Feb. 4, 2024(1:00pm-5:00pm)

Join MORSL for a My Neighbour’s Faith outing to the Canadian Institute of Islamic Civilization. We will enjoy the CIIC’s exhibits and discover the contributions of Islamic civilization to science, knowledge, and philosophy. We will also tour the centre, visit the mosque, and enjoy a discussion about Islamic beliefs and practices. Expand your religious literacy and mark Muslim Awareness Week with us! This event is part of a series of several events on campus marking Muslim Awareness Week.Event Details

Schedule:

  • 1:00 – 1:10 Arrival and brief introduction
  • 1:10 – 2:00 Discussion on Islam
  • 2:00 – 2:35 Workshop on how Muslims pray
  • 2:40 – 3:00 Observing Asr prayer
  • 3:00 – 4:00 Tour exhibition “1001 inventions of the golden age of Islam” followed by tea/coffee/snacks (halal)
Carols by Candlelight Dec. 15, 2023 (5:30pm-9:00pm)

Join MORSL, Concordia's MFSC and the Presbyterian Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul for a December installment of My Neighbour's Faith. We'll enjoy a pizza dinner served by the church before enjoying a beautiful candlelit concert featuring religious Christmas music. Dress can be casual or business casual as you wish. The deadline to register: Thursday, Dec. 12th at 5:00 PM.

Schedule:

5:30 PM:Gather inside the entrance of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul (3415 Redpath St.)

6:00 PM:Pizza Dinner

7:30 - 9:00 PM:Carols by Candlelight Concert

Visit to the Sufi Centre of Montreal Nov. 11, 2023 (4:45pm-9:00pm) Join MORSL and Concordia's MFC as we visit the Sufi Centre of Montreal. Sufism is a mystic body of practice in Islam. Sufis seek to embody the way of past prophets and practice Divine remembrance, meditation, and service to others. We will gather at Concordia's Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre located at 2090 MacKay St. at 4:45 PM and travel to the Centre together. The worship event we attend will be from 6-9 pm, with dinner served at the end at 8:30 PM. Dress should be business casual (no jeans with holes or very casual clothing). Both men and women are expected to have their shoulders and legs covered. We recommend wearing a head covering for women, but this is not required.
Visit to the Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom Sep. 29, 2023 (6:30pm-9:30pm) Join UUֱ Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and the Concordia Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre for a special installment of My Neighbour's Faith as we visit a Reform synagogue and community. We will attend the Friday evening service on Erev Sukkot, the start of the Jewish holy days of Sukkot. We'll meet at the Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre in the Z Annex, located at 2090 MacKay, at 6:45 PM, and walk to Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom together. To attend, please register on myInvolvement by Wednesday, Sep. 27 at 5:00 PM. More details, including an information packet, will be sent to participants via email.

My Neighbour's Faith 2022-2023

Event Date Details
Visit to the Montreal ISKCONTemple Mar. 19, 2023(4:00pm-8:00pm) Come join us for our "My Neighbour's Faith" visit event this winter semester! We'll visit the Montreal Krishna Temple (ISKCON) near the Olympic stadium. During this visit,you’ll get to experience prayers and worship, including readings from the Bhagavad Gita (bilingual). We’ll learn briefly about Hindu faith, and hold a Q&A session with community members. Later, we will join the community for a specially-prepared, sanctified vegetarian feast!
Visit to theGurdwaraGuru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple Feb. 9, 2023(5:00pm-8:00pm) Join MORSL this week for a "My Neighbour's Faith" visit to the Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Lasalle. We’ll experience worship and prayers, learn about Sikhism, and hold a Q&A session with community members. We’ll also join the community for a vegetarian dinner. Earn CCR credit, strengthen your religious literacy, and branch out into connecting with the greater community!
Carols by Candlelight: A visit to the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul Dec. 17, 2022 (6:15pm-9:30pm) Join MORSL for an interactive visit to the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul to learn more about religious Christmas traditions and enjoy a beautiful candlelit concert. We'll also enjoy a pizza dinner served by the Church of A & P before the concert.Event Details
Visit to CIIC Mosque Nov. 11, 2022 (12:00pm-2:30pm) Come join us for the third My Neighbour's Faith event this Fall! We'll walk from MORSL to The Canadian Centre of Islamic Civilization. You'll get to experience worship and prayers and learning activities and interact with community members during a Q&A session. Participating students will earn CCR credit!Event Details
Visit to the Montreal Bahá'íShrine Oct. 20, 2022 (5:00pm-7:30pm) Come join us for the second My Neighbour's Faith event this Fall! We'll walk from MORSL to the nearby Montréal Bahá'í Shrine. Join us for an in-person immersive experience in Bahá'í Faith's history and local community. The shrine is the onlyBahá'í Shrine in Canada and is also a carefully preserved historical site. It is regularly open to people of all faith and secular backgrounds and is a place of quiet meditation and prayer.
Synagogue visit to Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Oct. 1, 2022 (9:00am-1:00pm) We are excited to announce that MORSL's "My Neighbour's Faith series" is back!For this event, students went on a special visit to Congregation Shaar Hashomayim where they participated in the Saturday Shabbat Service and lunch as part of an embodied experience of this community's life.Event Details

My Neighbour's Faith 2019-2020

Event Date Details
Muslim Awareness Week at Temple:Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom Jan. 31, 2020 (7:45-9:00pm)

As part of MORSL's "My Neighbour's Faith series", students are invited to join us for a special event hosted by one of our community partners, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom during Muslim Awareness Week. Come see how this community is reaching out to build connections across faiths, as we listen to Ms. Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed address the congregation as a guest speaker during Shabbat services.UUֱ Channel Eventand.

This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in interfaith learning which also goes towards your co-curricular record!
Carols by Candlelight:A visit to The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul Dec. 15 2019 (4:45-8:30pm) We have been graciously invited to meet the organist Jonathan Oldengarm, tour the church, and enjoy a communal dinner before the beautiful Carols by Candlelight Service. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage in interfaith learning and musical celebration which also goes towards your co-curricular record!Event Details
Visit to Kahnawá:ke October 25, 2019

This event saw students visit Kahnawá:ke to learn more about local Indigenous perspectives on faith and spirituality. We visited the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center, the St. Francis Xavier Mission, and the St. Kateri Shrine, in order to learn more about our Kanien’kehá:ka neighbours. Participants learned about traditional spiritual beliefs, indigenous Christianity, and the ongoing legacies of colonialism.Event Details

STUDENT REVIEWS

"I really appreciated the first part of the day, where the guide showed us around the museum and city. He was just great and I learned a lot of interesting things!"

"I will need to relook at my own assumptions of what indigenous people 'should be' and how a reserve should look like."

"I think I will make an effort to keep learning about Indigenous peoples and try to find a ways to stop benefiting from their oppression."

My Neighbour's Faith 2018-2019

Event Date Details
Visit to the Shambhala Meditation Centre Nov. 14, 2018 Join MORSL for a guided visit of the Centre, a sample meditation session and an opportunity for Q&A with experienced meditation practitioners.Event Details
Carols by Candlelight:A visit to The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul Dec. 16, 2018 Caroling is an important element of the Christmas season for many Christians. Join MORSL for an interactive visit to the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul to learn more about this rich cultural tradition as well as the meaning and celebration of Christmas and a beautiful candlelit caroling concert.Event Details
Visit toChabad House Feb. 23, 2019 Join MORSL for a My Neighbour’s Faith visit to Chabad House to learn more about one of the Jewish groups active at UUֱ! On Saturday, February 23, participants are invited to experience Saturday prayers, participate in a Q&A, and enjoy lunch with the community. Free, but please register online for this amazing interfaith experience!Event Details
Visit to the Bahá'í Shrine Mar. 20, 2019

Did you know that Montreal is home to the only Baha’i shrine in the Western Hemisphere? Join MORSL for a My Neighbour’s Faith visit to this sacred site, where we’ll discover the Baha’i faith! On Wednesday March 20 – Baha’i Naw Ruz (new year’s eve) – students are invited to the shrine for a tour, a video, and a Q&A. Snacks will be provided! We will meet at 1550 Avenue des Pins West (next door to the shrine) at 5:45pm, and the visit will run until 8pm. Free, but you must register on this form to participate in this amazing interfaith experience!Event Details

STUDENT REVIEW

"I went to the My Neighbour’s Faith workshop and it was lifechanging."

My Neighbour's Faith 2017-2018

Event Date Details
Visit to a Unitarian Church Mar.11, 2018 Learn more about the Unitarian Church is a welcoming, inclusive faith community offering individuals and families many ways to nurture spiritual exploration and participate in social justice.Event Details
Visit to a Sikh Gurdwara Feb. 28, 2018 Learn more about Sikhism on a guided visit, with a Punjabi meal and a chance for questions and discuss with community members!Event Details
Visit to an Anglican Church Feb. 16, 2018 We welcome UUֱ students of any religious or non-religious background to experience a blend of contemporary worship in a traditional setting!Event Details
Visit to Assuna Mosque Nov. 16, 2017 Join us at Assuna Mosque (by metro Parc) for a short intro to Islam, a prayer service, and a dinner with discussion! Thursday, November 16th at 3:30pm. Meet on-site. RSVP required atmorsl [at] mcgill.ca.Event Details
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