FROM AROUND THE WORLD...
Reconciliation Day was begun as a project with Interfaith Forum, Columbus Indiana delegates in their non-faith-based partnership with delegates from the Municipal Center of Investigation and Training for the Foundation of Conflict Resolution in Bogotá, Colombia, South America after they met at the 2005 Goldin Institute for International Partnership and Peace Conference in Amritsar India in 2005. The conference focused on the theme of Reconciliation: Creating Partnerships for Building Peace. Columbus Indiana has chosen to partner with Colombia, who initiated the idea in their communities on October 4, 2005, in observing this day with them and inviting every community to participate.
DAY OF THE SISTER AND THE BROTHER...
Colombia initiated the Day of the Sister and the Brother (a Day of Reconciliation) on October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi because of the majority of Catholics in their country as well as honoring St. Francis, the patron saint of relationships between humankind and all of God's Creation. In Colombia, opposition guerrilla armies and paramilitary forces often linked to the armed forces continue to maintain children in their ranks and use them as soldiers and spies, according to UNICEF. Often, these children remain estranged from families and communities and are unable to re-integrate. Community members also have wounded relationships related to these issues. Families have experienced losses through death and divorce and differences. Reconciliation Day's large purpose is to contribute to the resolution of conflicts and to promote reconciliation and peaceful, even joyful, coexistence.
THE WORLD WILL BE AS ONE...
The hope was that this day would invite us all to have communication and reconciliation with our family, friends, bosses, workers, communities, churches, our government and the earth. It could be used as a time to acknowledge how important all of the people in our lives are to us. The resulting actions could be a touchstone to initiate steps toward reconciliation, no matter how small those steps may be. With reconciliation, we can bring others together again in friendship and settle disagreements.Beginning with individuals on a one-to-one personal basis and within our families and communities, we can begin to model for others how to create a journey that will begin to heal our world.
OCTOBER 4, 2007...
At an international conference in Cartagena Colombia, South America, Inter Faith Forum was recognized by the group who instituted Reconciliation Day for their participation in the promotion of this special observance.
