FGS South Island NZ Attended to Family Memorial Service for the 10th Anniversary of the 22 February 2011 Canterbury Earthquake
On the 10th anniversary of the 22 February Canterbury earthquake that happened in Christchurch, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island NZ was invited by the World Peace bell committee to attend the Family Memorial Service for the 10th Anniversary of the 22 February 2011 Canterbury Earthquake at Avonhead Cemetery as representative of the Buddhist community. This was a special memorial service for the families of the deceased, taking place in a quiet and peaceful setting for people to remember the victims, with various religious representatives offering their prayers. FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, FGS South Island NZ Temple Minister in Charge Venerable Jue Xi and members from the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) South Island New Zealand, making up 10 people attended the ceremony. Present also was the Christchurch Mayor Hon. Lianne Dalziel, representatives of various religions, the Japanese ambassador, and more than 100 people from the families of the victims.
During the prayer service, the earthquake victims’ families and representatives of various religions gave speeches and paid tribute through various religious rituals. This included Catholic representative Father Brian Fennessy, Buddhist representative Venerable Abbess Manshin from FGS NZ, Jewish representative Yosef Ben-Haim and Christchurch Transitional Cathedral representative Dean of Christchurch The Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley.
Abbess Manshin recited Venerable Master Hsing Yun's Prayer for the 10th Anniversary of the Canterbury Earthquake, wishing for the deceased to rest in peace and for the survivors to stay strong and work with the government to rebuild a brand new future for Christchurch. These soothing words touched the hearts of the public, relieving their grief and restoring hope in their lives.
Afterwards, Christchurch Mayor Hon. Lianne Dalziel, the Japanese ambassador, the earthquake victims’ family members and the public laid flowers at the monument. Abbess led the BLIA members to recite the Heart Sutra and the Pure Land Rebirth Mantra in front of the monument, offering blessings and merits to the deceased and completing the blessing ceremony for the day.
Later, Venerable Abbess Manshin, Mayor Hon. Lianne Dalziel and Dean of Christchurch The Very Reverend Lawrence Kimberley greeted the earthquake victims’ families, encouraging each other and wishing that everyone is able to face the impermanence of life with wisdom and compassion, welcoming a new start after crossing the challenges of life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgyfGQBoTgQ&ab_channel=%E4%BD%9B%E5%85%89%E5%B1%B1%E4%BA%BA%E9%96%93%E8%A1%9B%E8%A6%96