2022 Festival of Faiths Calendar

Event calendar and descriptions

The 2022 Festival of Faiths is a full week of programming starting with the opening devotional service on Sunday, July 31, and culminating in the giant exhibition on Sunday, August 7, when all faiths will come together in one space.

All events listed here are free and open to the public. Click on the event name or scroll down for more details. Virtual events require zoom registration. (Scroll to the right on mobile to see the full 8-day table.)

Sunday, July 31
1:30 PM Opening devotional observance – virtual
Click here to view the event video
Each year the Festival of Faiths officially opens with an Interfaith Devotional Ceremony. This is a unique spiritual gathering that brings together leaders from the diverse religious communities of the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. The Interfaith Devotional Ceremony represents a beautiful mosaic of reverence composed of sacred readings and prayers from our many religious traditions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Native American traditions and Zoroastrianism. This opening event is a transcendent experience you will not want to miss. Again this year it will be streamed.

3 PM Faith for Earth: A Call for Action – virtual
Click here to view the event video
This presentation, based on the book, Faith for Earth: A Call for Action, by the United Nations Environment Programme and World Parliament of Religions, describes the essential, unshakeable reverence that all religions have for creation and nature. Be inspired to become part of the flourishing global interfaith movement that is increasingly bringing people together to protect and sustain life on Earth.

4:30 PM Sacred Connections: Celebrations and Ceremonies – virtual
Click here to view the event video
Please register for this educational and enjoyable virtual program in which we will watch and learn about some celebratory ceremonies from faiths like Zoroastrianism, Islam, Baha’i, and Buddhism. We will present a Zoroastrian Jasan ceremony, an Islamic Coming of Age ceremony, the Baha’i faith’s Spiritual Education for Children, and the Sri Lankan Buddhist New Year.

7 PM How to Start a Green Team in Your Congregation – virtual
Click here to view the event video
Having a Green team in a house of worship enables congregational lay members to influence attitudes and daily behaviors to take better care of our planet for future generations.Panel members representing different faith communities will share their expertise on how to form a Green Team in your congregation to unite members to work together for a sustainable environment for all.

Monday, August 1
12 PM Spiritual Meditation – virtual
Click here to view the event video
Meditative devotion and prayers are means of strengthening our spiritual connections, reducing fear and anxiety, and achieving inner peace in our hectic lives. This virtual session invites you to view meditative devotions as practiced by: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Community Friends Meeting (Quaker), and the Zoroastrian faith traditions. The session will include 8-minute faith meditations or devotionals concluding with a Q&A session. Take a break from your rushed lives and come join our meditative sessions!

7 PM Social action (90 mins) – virtual
Click here to view the event video
The 2022 general election is quickly approaching, and the social action committee of the Festival of Faiths wants to ensure you are informed and engaged. Join us for a virtual presentation with a panel of distinguished civic experts and public officials who will unpack the impact and interplay between faith, racial equity, and voting. Learn how your faith community can be involved in nonpartisan voter outreach, what you can do as an individual, and why it’s pivotal to lean into the political process at a time where democracy is being questioned.

Tuesday, August 2
12 PM Talk to Your Neighbor: One America Movement (90 mins) – virtual
Click here to view the event video
Exploring the science behind our divides: Identity, Group Formation, Polarization, and Setting Group Norms & Leading in Divisive Times. The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s JCRC, the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC), and EquaSion are partnering with One America Movement to build a united American society by eliminating toxic polarization. You will learn about how the relationships between identity and group formation can feed into polarization. This will also cover how creating positive and inclusive identities and groups can stop polarization. This is the first of three One America events planned in partnership with JCRC.

7 PM Sacred Connections: Celebrations and Ceremonies – virtual
Please register for this educational and enjoyable virtual program in which we will watch and learn about some celebratory ceremonies like a Sikh wedding ceremony, a Chrism Mass Ceremony, and more, from faith groups like the Sikh community, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

7 – 8:30 PM Youth JOY Event – in person at the ish Garage at 4113 Langland St, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Click here to go to the Youth Group
The Beloved Community Youth invite all teens to gather for a joyous time of fun, food, games, and discussion. One of the best ways to work for the common good is to share the joy that keeps us going!

Wednesday, August 3
1:30 PM Compassionate Conversations – virtual
Register here for Zoom link.
What moments of inspiration have we experienced in our religious and spiritual life? How have those moments compelled us to work for the common good? We’re hosting Compassionate Conversations during the week of the Festival of Faiths to explore these questions across religious lines through personal stories and encounter. We’ll start as a large group before breaking into groups of 3-4 to share personal stories about INSPIRATION.

7 PM Spiritual Meditation – virtual
Register here for Zoom link.
Meditative devotion and prayers are means of strengthening our spiritual connections, reducing fear and anxiety, and achieving inner peace in our hectic lives. This virtual session invites you to view meditative devotions as practiced by: Baha’i, Buddhism, and Judaism faith traditions. The session will include 8-minute faith meditations or devotionals concluding with a Q&A session.  Take a break from your rushed lives and come join our meditative sessions!

4 PM Discussing Race: Leading Faith-based Conversations – virtual
Register here for Zoom link.
Tammy Bennett and Priya Klocek will lead a discussion based in part on the AMS discussion guide prepared by former JCRC intern Aaron Torop  (https://www.equasion.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AMSDisusssionGuide.pdf)

7 PM Portraits in Faith – virtual
Register here for Zoom link.
Enjoy the interfaith multi-media documentary project created by Daniel Epstein as he travelled the world as a P&G Marketing Director. Portraits in Faith is the world’s most extensive set of testimonies on the subject of faith conducted by one person and includes 450 people in 27 countries sharing the pivotal experiences of their spiritual journey. Daniel will share his journey and video clips of how people around the world have answered the questions he poses. He will also share an approach to dialogue called “Sacred Listening” which Daniel defines as “receiving the story of someone you perceive to be ‘the other.’ Preview Portraits in Faith here online: https://portraitsinfaith.org/about/intro-video/

Saturday, August 6
3:30 PM Spiritual Meditation – virtual
Register here for Zoom link.
Meditative devotion and prayers are means of strengthening our spiritual connections, reducing fear and anxiety, and achieving inner peace in our hectic lives. This virtual session invites you to view meditative devotions as practiced by: Hinduism, Islam, and the Roman Catholic faith traditions. Each session will include 8-minute faith meditations or devotionals concluding with a Q&A session. Take a break from your rushed lives and come join our meditative sessions!

Sunday, August 7
12 – 5 PM Festival of Faiths Exhibition – in person
Cintas Center at Xavier University
Community leaders and thousands of others will gather together at the Cintas Center and enjoy cultural foods, merchandise, youth and adult activities, over 60 faith-based exhibitors, cultural and ethnic music, and entertainment. The exhibition begins with a short opening ceremony including the Mayor’s proclamation. Special performances will continue on the stage throughout the day. This will be the largest interfaith gathering in the greater Cincinnati area.