Unitarians to explore Greek gods, goddesses
Katherine Burgess will give a talk called “Religions of Earth and Sky” at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango, 419 San Juan Drive.
The Greeks worshipped a variety of gods, goddesses and powers. The model of Greek religious practice offers a variety of ways that the human urge toward religion can find expression.
For more information, visit www.durangouu.org.
Quakers help Navajos develop community
The Quakers will learn about community development in the Torreon/Star Lake Chapter of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Friends (Quaker) Meetinghouse, 803 County Road 233.
Patricia Kutzner will present an update about the progress of the Community Alliance of Torreon. She will be accompanied by Sam Sala, president of the alliance’s board of directors, and Leo Charley, a board member.
Quaker groups, including the Durango Meeting, have been supporters of the alliance’s efforts to build viable business skills and enterprises in the Torreon/Star Lake, which is about 25 miles southwest of Cuba, New Mexico. Torreon/Star Lake is one of the most economically depressed chapters on the Navajo Nation.
Spiritual conference to welcome all faiths
Fellowship of Spirit, a non-denominational, interfaith spiritual center in Farmington, will host the 2015 New Thought Ministry Development Conference from April 8 to April 11.
The spiritual center will welcome ministers and spiritual leaders from around the United States. The theme of the conference is “To See As God Sees, To Know As God Knows, To Love As God Loves.”
The conference will tap in to the deeply rooted spirituality of New Mexico with a blend of New Thought and Native American spirituality.
The Rev. Shirley Montoya of the Navajo Nation will provide a blessing to open and close the conference.
James Twyman, bestselling author and “Peace Troubadour” who put the peace prayers from the 12 major religions to music, will perform live at 7 p.m. April 9 at the Great Kiva at Aztec Ruins.
A screening of “Bridge Walkers” will be held at 7 p.m. April 10 at the Fellowship of Spirit Center in Farmington.
To reserve tickets, visit www.fellowshipofspiritevents.wordpress.com.
The conference will be held at the Fellowship of Spirit Center, 2009 East 13th St. in Farmington, and it is open to all faiths and spiritual practices.
For registration information, call (505) 325-1392.
During Naples visit, Francis finally gets pizza
ROME – Pope Francis, who recently lamented he can’t slip out and get a pizza like he used to, finally got a pie – albeit one hand-delivered to his popemobile.
Pizza maker Enzo Cacialli had a pie on hand as Francis sped by the Naples waterfront March 21 during his one-day visit to the city famous for its pizza. In a video made by a co-worker at the “Don Ernesto” pizzeria, Cacialli is seen getting close enough to the popemobile to make the delivery as the crowd behind him cheers.
Cacialli, whose father made pizza for a visiting President Bill Clinton in 1994, told Naples’ Il Mattino that he used yellow tomatoes rather than red to reflect the colors of the Holy See.
He said he was “full of joy that he accepted a pizza straight from my hands.”
In a recent interview with a Mexican broadcaster, Francis said what he misses most being pope is going out to get a pizza. Now, he eats in the communal dining room of the Vatican hotel, serving himself cafeteria-style like the rest of the guests at dinner.
Pope says Earth’s water must be protected
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is encouraging the world to ensure its water supplies are protected and available to all.
Francis noted the United Nations marked March 22 as an occasion to draw attention to water’s importance.
He quoted St. Francis of Assisi, who inspired his choice of name as pope, in praising water for its usefulness and purity.
Francis intends to detail his views on the environment soon in an encyclical, a Vatican position paper reserved for important matters.
Speaking to the public in St. Peter’s Square, the pope called water “the most essential element for life” and said “humanity’s future depends on our ability to care for it and share it.”
He encouraged governments to ensure that water supplies are protected and accessible to all.
Herald Staff & Associated Press
