Local religious leaders share stories about shared trip to the Holy Land
Reading, Pa. - A presentation on the recent interfaith pilgrimage to Israel by Alvernia University President Dr. Thomas F. Flynn and local religious leaders was held at the McGlinn Conference Center.
This year’s A Common Heart Program, celebrating its 11th year, titled “Unlikely Friendships: Encountering God in Interfaith Relationships,” featured a panel discussion on a shared pilgrimage to the Holy Land by local religious leaders Rabbi Brian Michelson of the Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom in Wyomissing, Rev. Thomas J. Orsulak of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Reading and Elsayed Elmarzouky of the Islamic Center of Reading.
“Alvernia University is committed to being a leader in and a resource for the interfaith community,” said Flynn. “We are proud to continue to host the Common Heart programs and further the interfaith dialogue in Berks County.”
The audience entered the presentation by receiving an event program that outlined some basic principles for participating in interfaith dialogue and was able to submit questions for the panel during the event’s intermission.
The Common Heart Program is a joint initiative between Alvernia, the Islamic Center of Reading, Church of Saint Benedict and the Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom.
Alvernia University is committed to interfaith dialogue and will be celebrating interfaith dialogue with an Interfaith Prayer Service and Fellowship on Friday, April 26 at 3 p.m. on campus at the Physical Education Center.
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Alvernia University is a thriving comprehensive university that empowers students to become ethical leaders with moral courage, while providing an intellectually challenging environment with real-world learning experiences. Located on a scenic 121-acre suburban campus in historic Berks County, Pennsylvania, the university of more than 3,000 students is conveniently located near Philadelphia (60 miles) and within an easy drive of New York, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
