Nelson Faith Groups Invite Community to Daily Climate Vigils

The West Kootenay EcoSociety and Nelson faith community are organizing daily climate interfaith vigils during the Paris climate summit from November 30 to Dec 12. The daily vigils will convene spaces for people of all faiths to come together to send prayers and intentions for a successful global agreement to tackle the climate crisis. The vigils will be hosted by different faith groups and led in their respective faith traditions.

To mark the end of the Paris climate summit and support implementation of agreements from the conference, there will be an interfaith pilgrimage in Nelson on Sunday, December 13. People are asked to meet at Nelson City Hall (the White Building) at 3:00pm and bring candles, lanterns, or flashlights. The group will walk among faith groups venues and government buildings, and will stop to provide a meditation or prayer at each venue.

The faith groups that are participating in organizing the daily interfaith vigils include the Ascension Lutheran Church, Cathedral of Mary Immaculate, Kootenay Shambhala Meditation Centre, Nelson United Church, St. Saviour’s Anglican Church, and Yasodhara Ashram.

“Let us make this vigil on climate as a bright and honest light to dispel fear and prejudice through our interfaith efforts to build greater friendship among ourselves. This will be our way, to paraphrase Pope Francis, to reach beyond ‘the globalization of indifference,’” says Conrado Beloso, Rector, Cathedral of Mary Immaculate.

Schedule of climate vigils: