Owensboro’s 14th Annual Faith Fest will kick off on November 8 and conclude on November 24 with the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. The 2.5-week festival is designed to bring people of all religions together to celebrate and learn about the different faith communities in Owensboro.
Faith Fest will run from November 8-24, and events will include educational and skill-building opportunities, fellowship times, and prayer services in several traditions.
The Rev. Dr. Claudia A. Ramisch is the ODCMA president and spearheads planning for the event. She said many Owensboro-area faith communities, the ODCMA, and the Owensboro Interfaith Center collaborate to host the festival.
“We have some really fun developments this year — two collaborative events, a joint OAWAC-Faith Fest event, an exciting keynote, and some brand new participating communities,” Ramisch said.
The two collaborative events are the opening prior to kick off the festival and a musical event on November 21.
Faith Fest begins at 1:30 p.m. on November 8 when the local Islamic Center (3131 Alvey Park Drive) will host a public Jummah (Friday prayers with sermon). This event will feature Friday congregational prayers and a dialogue between Islamic Center President Dr. Aseedu Kalik and First Christian Church Pastor The Rev. J. Chris Michael. The dialogue will focus on the way that Islam and Christianity understand their respective Scriptures.
The musical event, called “The Hymns We Share,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. on November 21 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral (610 Locust Street). This event will feature the combined music ministries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
“Both churches have a remarkable amount of talent and a long-standing community outreach through music,” Ramisch said. “The evening will invite you to rest and reflection surrounded by beautiful sound.”
The keynote event of the festival is “The Art of Spiritual Hospitality: An Invitation to Radical Openness to the Mystery Within and with Our Neighbor.” It will be offered by Spiritual Director & Counselor Maryann Joyce at 10 a.m. on November 16 at First Presbyterian Church (1328 Griffith Avenue). The event will include a presentation, Q&A, and interactive conversation.
Another main event will be the joint presentation by Faith Fest and Owensboro Area World Affairs Council (OAWAC). “Ahimsa: Living Nonviolently” will be offered by Dr. Mahendra and Nalini Maru on at 6:30 p.m. on November 21 at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Owensboro (1221 Cedar Street). This presentation will explore Jainism’s primary guiding principle.
Faith Fest will conclude with the 17th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service hosted by the Owensboro Interfaith Center on November 24 at 2:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Owensboro (corner of Cedar Street and Parrish Avenue)
Other special events will include:
- Annual Sacred Text Exhibit — November from 10 a.m to 12:30 p.m. at the Daviess County Public Library (2020 Frederica Street)
- Children’s Event sponsored by NonViolent Owensboro — November 9 at 10 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church (426 St. Ann Street)
- Visit to the Tri-State Hindu Temple for teaching, Aarti, and fellowship — November 10 at 6 p.m. (6044 Vann Road, Newburgh)
- Bible Study and 150th Anniversary Presentation offered by The Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph — November 13 at 4 p.m. at Pleasant Point Missionary Baptist Church (3723 KY 764, Utica).
- Torah Study — November 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Adath Israel (429 Daviess Street)
- Antiochian Orthodox Christian Services: Matins and Divine Liturgy presided over by The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Hackney (of St. Ananias, Evansville) — November 23 at 9:15 a.m. at Brescia University Chapel on the Quad (717 Frederica Street)
- Zen Buddhist Meditation — November 22 at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Owensboro at (1221 Cedar Street)
