Local Church Prepares For Dalai Lama Visit

An upcoming visit and talk by the Dalai Lama will emphasize interfaith cooperation between communities. In response, that’s exactly what did when it was asked to build a symbol for the event.

When the Dalai Lama speaks July 17 at the University of Illinois’ Pavilion on “Bridging the Faith Divide: Compassion in Action,” the churches' candelabra — which has seven points, representing days of creation — will be among 12 total icons on stage. The menorah will be covered in fabric to represent Islam, Christianity and Judaism, respectively.

“For a year now, I’ve had an interfaith dialogue with this church, and I was invited to be part of this sculpture project,” Tasneen Matthis, a member of the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, told the Sun-Times.

The next day religious leaders at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will discuss “Building Bridges” with His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, who is the spiritual leader of Tibet and the 14th Dalai Lama.