Participation in Christchurch’s Commonwealth Day Service by FGS South Island
To commemorate Commonwealth Day 2020, a Special Service was held at the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral on 8th March 2020. The Dean of Christchurch Cathedral, the Very Reverence Lawrence Kimberly, invited Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin to attend and offer prayer at the Special Service. The Commonwealth Day is celebrated yearly by 54 Commonwealth nations and falls on the second Monday of the month of March each year.
On the said day, FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin, FGS South Island Minister-in-charge Venerable Jue Xi, Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island President Bernie, Vice president James Low and Director Kok-Wei Low, representing the Buddhist Faith, attended the Special Service.
The Special Service started with the Very Reverence Lawrence Kimberly leading a team bearing the Commonwealth flags into the venue, followed by the singing of New Zealand National Anthem. This was followed by the reading of the Queen’s welcome speech. In her speech, the Queen pointed out that Commonwealth is a big family of multi-cultural nations. As such, fostering cordial relationships among its members will cater for a brighter future for the Commonwealth. The Queen said that she is always moved by the keen participations of the 54 member nations in Commonwealth Gatherings and Commonwealth Games. The tradition of mutual tolerance and acceptance is pivotal in the societal, political and economic growths in the Commonwealth. Through the advancement in technology and multi-media, the people are now able to witness and share the experiences taken place in the educational, medical and environmental conservation fields. There is a realization that the choices made and actions taken in these fields have an immediate bearing on the lives of the masses. The Queen called upon the people to cautiously utilize the natural resources of the Earth. The Commonwealth nations will work together to formulate a prosperous and environmentally friendly World. The Queen hoped that the Commonwealth nations will draw inspirations from their valuable cooperation, and march forward with renewed determination, positively contributing to the wellbeing of the World.
Afterwards, the Very Reverence Lawrence Kimberly led the congregation in prayer. This was followed by singing of hymns by the Selwyn District Choir and the Haka and Choir of Cathedral Grammar School. The Very Reverence then invited FGS NZ Abbess Venerable Manshin to deliver a prayer. Venerable Abbess responded by reciting Master Hsing Yun’s Prayer for Safety from the COVID-19 Outbreak and wishing that Covid-19 pandemic will be overcome and peaceful times will return to the World.
The Very Reverence then invited Christchurch ex-high school student Jake Bailey to share his experiences in fighting cancer. Jake recalled that, in 2015, he was given 2 weeks to live by the doctor, after being diagnosed to be in the final stage of cancer. Refusing to surrender and deciding to face life with more positivity, Jake treated cancer as an adversity and a challenge. For the past two years in succession, Jake had successfully completed New Zealand’s most challenging Coast to coast event. In the talk, Jake told that the obstacles and challenges posed by the extreme race have indeed become his drive to live on. Through sharing his experiences in talks like this, Jake hopes to help more people overcome and survive their adversities in life.
Finally, the Service ended amid the melodious voices of the hymns. The Very Reverence Lawrence Kimberly thanked FGS entourage for their participation, enabling the Commonwealth Day celebration to exhibit its multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multicultural nature. Before parting, BLIA President Bernie extended his invitation to the Very Reverence Lawrence Kimberly to attend the Buddha’s Day celebration on 18th April 2020, and invited Jake Bailey to give a talk on his personal experiences in FGS South Island.