Happy Birth Day URI

Happy Birth Day URI

It was fourteen years ago, in the year 2000, on June 26 that the URI Charter was signed. A unique international organisation was born. As the founder president Bishop William Swing always mentions, it all started with a phone call from the United Nations in 1993, asking him to organise a thanks giving prayer in San Francisco, to mark the 50th year of the Charter signing of The UN. The prayer was very well organised, but the mission was not complete. The bishop asked himself: "If the nations of the world are working together for peace through the UN, where are the world's religions?"

It put him on a long journey, which he reminded us again today here at the Santa Clara University , California where the URI Global Council members and Staff are meeting together. Today United Religions Initiative has units in more than 84 countries, and it is one of the fast growing international organisations with more than 620 cooperation circles, big and small. An active partner of the United Nations in peace building, URI has spread its wings to multifarious avenues like environmental concerns, disarmament, women's issues, indigenous support, grass roots development, capacity building and so on.

We have to remember all our former stalwarts who are members of the Celestial CC, who held this Movement dear to their hearts. We thank all our dear leaders who struggled a lot in the initial years to sail the URI boat to a safer shore, braving the waves of times. How can we forget Canon Rev. Dr. Charles  Gibbs, who served as Executive Director for seventeen years, who traversed the globe to conquer the hearts? The first Global Council Chairperson Rita Semele and Yoland Trevino who followed her played excellent role in leading people of all Faiths together in a fruitful pilgrimage. The present GC chairperson Kiran Bali and the New Executive Director Rev. Victor Kazanjian bring in a lot of dynamism and enthusiasm commingled with expertise and talents. We are  grateful to Debra Bernstein also for her sincere contributions.

We are conscious of the great support of our benefactors and members of the President's Council, but for whose unstinted care, this organisation would not have reached anywhere. Let us bow down our head before the magnanimity of all those people around the world for whom URI is a passion. They are the back bone of this Movement nonpareil.


Happy Birth Day, URI.


Abraham Karickam

About Two Mothers

About Two Mothers

With Bishop Swing, Mary Swing and Rita Semele at Santa Clara University

It is not Mother's Day, yet I would like to write a note on these two mothers who are with Bishop Bill Swing and myself. Any man would draw a blank, however big his dreams are, if his better half is a block on his way, and vice versa. Bishop Swing founded the URI and is still steering this Global Initiative from the front and there is Mary, always on his side with a beaming smile. Her smile speaks volumes.  All of us know how much she struggled during the brief period of unsound health, and there is hardly any one in URI circles who has not prayed for her in those days. They have a long way to go, as the Cosmic Over Soul has assigned them greater responsibilities to be fulfilled.

Rita Semel, the second mother in the picture was the first Global Council Chairperson of URI, who continued in office for many years. She played an exemplary role in binding multi-farious Faiths together and I often wondered at the ease with which she chaired the GC sessions, which is not an easy sailing always. We bow down to you Rita. We have learned a lot from you.

I am we'll aware of the fact that we have so many fathers and mothers in the URI President's Council who make this extraordinary Movement possible. It was sheer joy to meet most  of them yesterday at the banquet and we are all grateful to you for presenting us again an unforgettable evening. Thanks to all who  joined hands to help realising this.

Together let us weave the web of URI, for the wellness of the Earth and all living beings.

Abraham Karickam

It is a miracle of Trust

It is a miracle of Trust

These adults who come to Taize Community in France, will at some stage perform that miracle, Which  I experienced in Rome during my first visit in 1988 January. We were doing our graduate school in Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Switzerland. They were closing for 10 days due to Christmas holidays. I spent one week in England and then came to Rome to attend a Taize meeting. And the number of participants were forty thousand! Meeting was for three days. I remember Pope John Paul II and brother Roger embracing each other in the St. Peter' s Basilica.

The miracle was that all  of  these 40,000 people were accommodated in families in Rome. People of Rome opened their houses for us, who were totally strangers for them. That is trust. I was with a family, who knew no word in English, but they gave me everything I wanted. Later they invited a relative, who was a student at Oxford, to help know one another a bit.

Taize conducts meeting all over the world, and the style is the same. We did the same in Madras two times later. If we can build trust, we can win over the hearts and minds of people, who are essentially good. This year Taize is going to Prague and the result will be the same.

Abraham Karickam

People's Pope

It was a happy coincidence today that we arrived at 12 noon at the Vatican, when Pope Francis suddenly appeared at the Vatican Square, greeting thousands of people who had assembled for the public audience. It was surprising that he was moving through the Square in his cart shaking hands with hundreds of devotees coming from all corners of the world.

 Whole Rome is in a jubilant mood as new signs of hope glitter in the Middle East because of the mediation of the Pope.

My last visit to the Vatican was in 1988 when we had the privilege of a private audience with the then Pope John Paul II, which we cherish for long. We were a group of 64 students from Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Geneva, being special guests at the Vatican for two weeks.

The atmosphere has tremendously changed here today, because of the people-oriented moves of Papa Francis.

Abraham Karickam

Why in Italy?

Why in Italy a Michael Angelo, a Leanardo Davinci, a Raphael is born?

Today my friend Renata Celli from Milan called us in Rome and I remembered visiting the Milano Cathedral with her during my first trip to Italy, where "Last Supper" is painted. There I understood that a Davinci can be born only in Italy. People make an artist of the world class.

Milano people knew that the City would be bombed during the Second World War. The Cathedral would vanish. And the "Last Supper"?. Large number of People came out braving the bombs and protected that wall with the painting with sand bags. As expected, the city was bombed and the Milan Cathedral gone. But Davinchi's wall remained in tact, and, of course, the painting was saved. Is it a wonder that these great artists are born in Italy?.  They love artists more than anything.

A Shakespeare can be born only during the reign of a Queen Elizabeth; a Kalidasa can flourish only in the court of a Vikramaditya. No other secret than this.

Abraham Karickam

Re-visiting Michael Angelo

Re-visiting Michael Angelo: two pictures that have captivated the minds of millions: Michael Angelo's Last Judgement and Davinchi's Last Supper. Yesterday I saw the Last Judgement again in the Sistine Chapel. Thousands of people line up here every day just to get a glimpse of this marvel. I know that MA started painting his pictures on the roof of this chapel when he was sixty and the work lasted eight long years. Sacrifice is the hall- mark of an artist. We usually don't recognise the suffering behind every classic achievement. Only long train of days with pain and patience bring glory, a lesson no one should ever forget.

Abraham Karickam

In side the Roman Colosseum

Here rests a Mahatma

" Never condemn the young people; they will rise up and build". Here rests a great soul (Mahatma) in the form of Br. Roger, who always said like this. This is just in front of the ancient Roman Church in Taize, where the Community was founded 74 years ago.  With immense faith in the young, he traversed the globe, to conquer their minds and hearts. From Chile to Chittagong, Barcelona to Calcutta, he journeyed with ease, leading intercontinental teams of young people, and writing letters to the people of God.

On some evenings he used to call us youngsters for parleys in front of the residence of brothers in Taize Community. He encouraged us to ask all types of questions. On an occasion in 1980, I remember asking like this:

"Why can't we broaden the base of the Community so as to include all people from all religions?".
I had my interfaith inclinations even from younger days. He sat pensive for a while and then came the reply:

"We have done this much; you (youngsters) do the rest". That was like a command for me, personally. That strengthened my commitment.

The body vanishes, but the soul's sojourn never ends. Br. Roger is a fountain of inspiration for thousands of pilgrims like myself today  in this world of darkness and light.

Abraham Karickam

Pilgrimage of Trust

This is a usual sight in Taize in summer. Thousands of young people come to live and share the community life. They want to be effective links in the chain of the pilgrimage of Trust. We can see a long line of buses like this, bringing people from all over Europe. They live in tents and barracks all over the village. Large number of adults and children also come. What are the factors that attract them?

1. They proclaim to the world  that they want peace and reconciliation ( two key words dear to Taize).

2. They want to learn ways of simple living ( brothers of the Community don't accept any donation for their sustenance. They have their own income generating projects like farming, book stall, pottery etc.) . They don't bring even their inheritance. In the midst of plenty, they show example of   Very simple living.

3. The prayer in the chapel of reconciliation (three times a day) is an exciting experience. (There are no sermons). The songs and chantings go deep into our hearts.

4. They subscribe to the vision of Br. Roger - build a world without war and misery; accept every one as a child of God.


One week in Taize turn to be an unforgettable experience for one and all.

Abraham Karickam

Taize Photos

                     With Br. Thomas of Taize

There will be many who shape our life. Br. Thomas is one of the early band of colleagues who joined Fr. Roger when he founded the Community. He hails from Scotland and it is because of his guidance and care that I got involved deeply in the life of this Community, even from my younger days. He became my Guru and his deep insights propelled me to the world of universal solidarity and to new avenues of struggle and contemplation.

Br. Thomas played a key role in the growth of Taize. Mother Theresa was so much drawn to this community and invited an inter-continental team to Calcutta in 1976. It was Br. Thomas who asked me to join this group and we stayed with Br. Roger and experienced real slum life. "Second Letter to the People of God" was written here during our daily reflections, after work during day time in the slums and destitute homes of the Missionaries of Charity. We had the privilege of interacting with Mother Theresa on some rare evenings and for many of us youngsters it was a bolt from the blue. The willingness of Fr. Roger to live among the poor people in the streets of Calcutta, revolutionised our thinking. Br. Thomas, Br. Ghislein and many others were leading from the front.

It is four decades since I first arrived on the hills of Taize and it is with trembling heart that I stand before the tomb of that great visionary, Br. Roger. My consolation is that Br. Thomas and many stalwarts are steering the Movement forward, with Br. Alois  at the helm.

One more beautiful summer in Taize and I am refreshed and relaxed. Our world today is a better place to live because of many like Br. Roger and Mother Theresa who reduced themselves to zero so as to help others grow in fullness.

Abraham Karickam

                                 Br. Roger of Taize

2015 will be very special to Taize. It will be the 75th year of the founding of the community, 10th death anniversary of Br. Roger and 100th year of his birth. A visionary non-pereil, Br. Roger founded the Ecumenical Community when the trumpets of World War II were sounding large in Europe. Ever since, it has become refuge for millions of young people from around the world, who thirst for peace. Br. Alois is leading this pilgrimage today, with the support of a vibrant band of brothers and sisters to support him. The "Pilgrimage of Trust" continues. The brothers of Taize want the Community to be a place of Trust, a safe abode for those who come to seek inner peace.

Abraham Karickam

When the Bells Ring in Taize

When the Bells Ring in Taize

It was in 1975, when I was a student that I first visited Taize Community in France. Ever since, it has become my second home. Brother Roger, it's founder is in the Celestial Community today, his spirit still leads the organisation, which is flourishing well. I am here with my wife Susan and my son Aby. It is their first visit.

Pope John XXIII once said: "Ah ...Taize, that little spring". I wrote a book on Taize long time back and it was sold out quickly. Taize had a big role in shaping my philosophy of universal oneness. I travelled to different parts of the world with Br. Roger and others. Incidentally, my first visit to United States in 1980 was from Taize and we had a series of meetings in the U.S and Canada.

Br. Roger was awarded the Templeton Prize in recognition of his selfless services and it was only one of the many. 

These bells invite every visitor (thousands in summer) to the large Church, which is at the centre of the village. Taize songs and prayers are very special. It is an unforgettable experience, and no wonder, Taize has become a centre of pilgrimage, dear to all.