We, at Common Street Spiritual Center (CSSC) are excited to announce “The Sharing the Silence Experience” — a series of programs and events with artist in residence Hyppolite Ntigurirwa, a Rwandan peace activist and artist — from Dec 26th to Dec 29th, 2019.
During his residency, our guest Hyppolite Ntigurirwa from Rwanda, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide at the age of 7, will present his Story of Turning from wanting to revenge his father’s killing in his teen years to becoming an Ambassador of Peace. Now, at the age of 32, he is the Founder of the non-profit “Be the Peace Organisation” which focuses on the healing of trauma so that hatred does not pass down to the next generation.
We welcome your participation in on or more or all of these programs and events!
Also, we are raising money to support Hyppolite’s work with Be the Peace. If you want to make a contribution, please visit our Be The Peace Rwanda Campaign fundraising page.
THE SHARING THE SILENCE EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE
1. Sharing the Silence Retreat
Thu, Dec 26th at 730pm to Sat Dec 28th at 4:00pm
2. Stories from Rwanda (Theatrical Performance)
Sat, Dec 28th 7:30 – 8:30 pm
3. Sunday Circle Featuring Hyppolite as Guest Speaker
Sun, Dec 29th 10:30 am
4. Lunch Reception with African Inspired Food
Sun, Dec 29th 12:00 pm
5. Storytelling and Healing Symposium
Sun, Dec 29th 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Please RSVP to Carole Berkowitz at sosvcarolin@gmail.com
FULL EVENT DESCRIPTIONS:
Sharing the Silence Retreat
Thu, Dec 26th at 730pm to Sat Dec 28th at 4:00pm
Meditation and Moon Rooms
The Sharing the Silence Retreat is the first of several events at Common Street Spiritual Center with Hyppolite Ntigurirwa, a Rwandan peace activist and artist; he will be our artist-in-residence from Dec 25th to Jan 2nd.
Hyppolite uses storytelling and the arts to heal the traumas of war and genocide, and prevent the transmission of hate intergenerationally.
Drawing on his personal spiritual practice of year-end silent retreat, Hyppolite will facilitate an experience of silent reflection, rest, and inner-grounding for retreat participants. The retreat invites participants on a journey to finding our own keys, keys from within to unlock the everyday padlocks that stop us from being each other’s peace.
The retreat will begin with an opening gathering at 7:30 in the evening on Thursday, Dec. 26th, during which participants will introduce themselves and set intentions.
The retreat will conclude with a ritual of sharing the gifts of the silence on Saturday, December 28th at 4:00 in the afternoon.
During the closing we will practice the Peace Abbey’s Blessing Bowl ritual of handwashing, and also share insights from our journals and journeys with silence.
During the retreat, on Friday and Saturday, the meditation room and moon room at the Spiritual Center will be set up for people who want to be there in silence, paint, journal, meditate, practice yoga, and such; participants can also choose to be in silence at their homes, reflecting, walking, journaling, painting, or whatever centers them.
For more info and to register contact Carole Berkowitz: sosvcarolin@gmail.com
Stories from Rwanda
Sat, Dec 28th 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Sanctuary Stage
Hyppolite Ntigurirwa, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, uses storytelling and the arts to heal the traumas of war and genocide, and prevent the transmission of hate intergenerationally.
Hyppolite will perform a one-man show with musical accompaniment, sharing letters, stories, and poetry of peacebuilding from Rwanda and globally.
Suggested donation of $10, with proceeds benefiting Be The Peace, Hyppolite’s nonprofit arts-based peacebuilding initiative.
Sunday Circle Featuring Hyppolite as Guest Speaker
Sunday morning 10:30 am 12/29 in Sanctuary of CSSC
During our Sunday Circle, Hyppolite will share about the spiritual motivation and practices that have inspired his peace-making journey
Lunch Reception with African Inspired Food, 12-2pm
Fellowship Hall of CSSC on Sun, Dec 29th.
A time for retreat participants, storytellers, friends of Hyppolite, and others to share a meal together. Local chef Salimata Bangoura will be catering the event with authentic Rwandan food. Donations welcome. Also, please RSVP TO Carole to let us know if you are coming: sosvcarolin@gmail.com. We want to know how much food to prepare!
Storytelling and Healing Symposium
Sunday Dec 29th, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Sanctuary
Rwandan genocide survivor and peace activist Hyppolite Ntigurirwa will begin the symposium by sharing his experience of finding healing and building peace through storytelling. The seeds of love he sows will inspire all of us and give us a rich source from which we can begin the New Year.
After Hyppolite speaks, Cheryl Perreault has graciously gathered other storytellers, musicians, and poets who will share pieces that they have created that have had a healing and peace impact in their lives.
Then local storyteller Alan O’Hare, acting as Seanchie (Irish story-collector and weaver), will invite people in the audience to participate by sharing poems, songs, stories, or thoughts of healing and peace-building.
We will end the program with a collective reading of a poem for peace.
Free and open to the public