| Great
Purification Prayers of Shinto performed in New York |
On April 8,
2002 several New York area interfaith organizations
co-sponsored a performance of Shinto ritual and prayer
at the Church Center for the United Nations as part
of an ongoing series to share the prayer tradition of
each faith.
Report by Paul Sherbow
==>> click here!
Sister Joan Kirby(Executive Director of
the Temple of Understanding) gave us a great notes for
our website. ==>> click here!
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Great Purification Prayers of Shinto performed
in New York
Mrs.
Setsuko Umeda of Tokyo, Japan, an ordained Shinto priestess,
performed formal bowing in front of the wooden shrine
or Kamidana, followed by invocation of the Shinto deity,
recitation of prayers for great purification and world
peace, and offering of the traditional tamagushi (green
tree sprigs). An explanation of each part of the ceremony
and translation of the Norito or prayer of blessing
was given by Mrs. Umeda's husband, International Shinto
Foundation (ISF) Director-General Yoshimi Umeda. Although
the majority of Shinto clergy are male priests, about
ten percent are female priestesses, like Mrs. Umeda,
who was ordained at the major Shinto seminary at Kogakkan
University in Ise, home of Japan's most famous shrine.
This event was organized by the
initiative of Sister Joan Kirby, Executive Director
of the Temple of Understanding, in cooperation with
Hiroko Sugimoto of ISF's New York Center, and co-sponsored
by the Interfaith Center of New York, the Loreto Community/Sisters
and Co-members, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Tribal
Link Foundation, URI/UN, and the Committee of Religious
NGOs at the United Nations. |
Report by Paul Sherbow
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REPORT
ON THE PRAYER AND RITUAL OFFERED BY SETSUKO UMEDA AT
THE CHURCH CENTER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS / APRIL 8,
2002
The Temple
of Understanding had the honor and great pleasure to
invite friends at the United Nations to a prayer and
ritual offered in the Shinto Tradition. This was
the climax of our series of prayers for peace held during
the year 2001-2002. The Temple of Understanding,
together with our co-sponsors (the International Shinto
Foundation, the Interfaith Center of New York, the Loretto
Community/ Sisters and Co-Members, the School Sisters
of Notre Dame, the Tribal Link Foundation, UN/URI, and
the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations)
has offered Prayers for Peace in eight different Religious
Traditions every month since the tragedy of September
11, 2001.
The altar with offerings
was set for the prayer in the 8th Floor Conference Room
of the Church Center for the United Nations. Setsuko
Umeda, assisted by the Shrine Maiden, performed the
ritual and made the offerings with great solemnity and
reverence. Following the ritual the offerings
were distributed among participants, thus providing
nourishment for all. Further enlightenment came
with the explanation of the ritual when Setsuko Umeda
graciously answered our questions.
A member of the Board Directors of the Temple
of Understanding thanked and said that it is for this
kind of experience that he has joined this interfaith
organization. All of those present were deeply
grateful for the opportunity for intercultural learning
experience. |
Joan Kirby
Temple of Understanding
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