AFP

Faith Tours

Description

Monthly opportunities for the general public to explore various faith traditions and join in directed conversation about the tenets of each faith, their practice, beliefs and sites of worship or community gatherings. Participants visit two faith communities on weekends around the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area. The tours conclude at Rothko Chapel with a structured discussion and evaluation.

 Future Faith Tour Dates & Destinations

• January 10, 2009: Sri Meenakshi Temple & Ismali Center
• February 2009: TBA
• March 15, 2009: First UMC Westchase & Congregation Or Ami
• April 19, 2009: Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart & The Rothko Chapel
• May 17, 2009: Congregation Beth Israel & Baha'i Center
• June 14, 2009:  TBA
• More to come...

Registration Is Now Open for our next Faith Tour: Saturday January 10, 2009 from 9am-1pm. Sites include: Sri Meenakshi Temple (Pearland) and Ismaili Jamatkhana Center (Sugar Land). Transportation is provided from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston located at 3217 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. Please note all parking is on-street and somewhat limited, please carpool if at all possible. We look forward to seeing you!

Please be considerate when registering as costs are associated with the reservation of the buses.  

 Please register only if you plan to attend.  

     Sri Meenakshi Temple Society was established in October 1977. The property was purchased on June 20, 1978. Sri Ganesh temple was constructed and inaugurated on Ganesh Chathurthi day in August 1979. Houston families took turns and performed daily poojas.
       Sri. Ranjit Banerjee, Professor of Architecture at University of Houston drew the master plan for the five acre property. Sri S. M. Ganapathy Sthapathi made two trips to Houston and drew the main temple plans. Sri Muthiah Sthapathi developed further details and helped to construct the main temple. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam (inauguration) was performed in June 1982.
      The deities at the main temple Meenakshi, Sundareswara and Venkateswara were installed according to the agamas with yantras. Nandi, Siva's vehicle, is directly opposite to Siva. Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle, is directly opposite to Venkateswara. Lakshmi, the companion of Vishnu, is the Goddess of wealth. She is represented as Padmavati.
     After 12 years, in June 1994, Ashtabhandhana was performed for the main deities. The east Rajagopuram, three gopurams and four prakara temples were constructed in July 1995. The Maha Kumbhabhishekam for the Rajagopuram and for prakara temples were performed on July 16, 1995.

     Ismaili Jamatkhana & Center.  A house of worship and community centre, that includes a prayer hall, conference room, library, classrooms, offices and a social hall. The design called for a centre that would establish permanence in a setting that was contemporary, yet reminiscent of an historical past that is itself an interwoven series of encounters across civilizations. From geometry of form that has defined architecture in Islamic contexts to the signs of Nature in water, gardens and light that have characterized its expression over the ages, the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center’s design achieves a fusion between the historical and the contemporary. The 11.5 acre site, set by a lake, with a fountain, landscaped gardens and a collection of Islamic decorative art, includes exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, space for private prayer and offices for Ismaili community institutions.

 Please register ONLY one person at a time. Thank you!