IPP Presents These Outstanding Annual Events:
*Dates shown are for 2012 and change each year
All events are open to the public (and free unless otherwise noted)
New Year's Day Interfaith Prayer Service for World Peace
(January 1)
This annual celebration of international "World Day of Peace" includes prayers, music and readings featuring representatives from the world's great religions. This event is the perfect way to start the new year...with prayers for peace from many different religious traditions.
LOCATION: St. William Catholic Church, 1226 W. Oak Street, Louisville, KY
Memorial Service for Homicide Victims
(January 29*)
A special liturgy honoring the memory of the homicide victims in Louisville Metro during the previous year. This special religious service is open to persons of all religions as well as those who practice no religion.
LOCATION: Christ Church Cathedral, 421 S. 2nd Street, Louisville, KY
Janet Irwin "Creativity in Peacemaking" Celebration
(April 15*)
This annual event, to be inaugurated in 2012, is a program of creative expression featuring Louisville-area musicians, artists, poets, dancers, photographers and more--all in celebration of peacemaking in an interfaith context. The 2012 event will include the announcement of the recipient of the first ever "Janet Irwin Award for Creative Expression in the Service of Interfaith Peacemaking." Janet, who passed away in November of 2011, was one of the visionary leaders of Interfaith Paths to Peace who helped to make it the leading interfaith organization in the greater Louisville area. A reception follows immediately.
LOCATION: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2233 Woodbourne Avenue, Louisville, KY
Memorial Day Interfaith Service
(Memorial Day - May 28*)
Established in 1984, the annual Memorial Day Interfaith Service features representatives from the world's great religions and includes prayers, music, dance, a candle lighting ceremony and the traditional reading of the "Litany of Battles." This unique interfaith service honors the dead (civilian as well as military) in all wars that have involved the United States. A reception follows immediately.
LOCATION: Highland Presbyterian Church, 1011 Cherokee Road, Louisville, KY
My Recipe for Peace
(July 12*)
This special fundraising dinner features a baker’s dozen of Louisville’s outstanding community leaders sharing their personal “recipes” for how they go about peacemaking in their daily lives. The dinner comprises food prepared from culinary recipes provided by the evening’s presenters. Reservations are required for this event.
LOCATION: The Temple, 5101 US Hwy. 42 (Brownsboro Rd. & Lime Kiln Ln.), Louisville, KY
Hiroshima & Nagasaki Commemoration Events
(August 6-9)
These annual events commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The events include: A Traditional Japanese Lantern Floating Ceremony at Cherokee Park, Tolling of the Cathedral Bell and reading of Thomas Merton's "Original Child Bomb" at Christ Church Cathedral, and public reading of selections from John Hersey's Hiroshima at Thomas Merton Square.
LOCATION: Various locations in Louisville as noted
Dare to Care Hunger Walk
(September 9*)
IPP is the major faith partner for this event
The Hunger Walk is a 5K Walk and Run benefiting Dare to Care Food Bank and the World Food Program. Over 2,000 people put hunger on the run and make a public commitment that everyone will have access to the food they need to be healthy. For registration and information about the Hunger Walk and Dare to Care visit www.daretocare.org.
LOCATION: Waterfront Park, Louisville, KY
Beyond 911: Peace Walk and Concert for Compassion and Tolerance (September 11)
This powerful event honors the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks while affording those present an opportunity to make a commitment to non-violence. Bring the whole family and enjoy music by Louisville area musicians and then join in a short walk to Thomas Merton Square in downtown Louisville.
LOCATION: Central Park, Louisville, KY
The Richard Hunt Smith National Peacemakers Day Celebration
(October 2 - Gandhi's Birthday)
IPP has created an annual dinner and lecture event on this date honoring the memory of those throughout the U.S. who have devoted their lives to peacemaking. This event takes place on October 2nd, a date recognized as International Day of Non-violence. The event is free but reservations are required.
LOCATION: Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY
Bobby Ellis Candlelight Vigil and March Against Hunger
(Thanksgiving Eve - November 21*)
This poignant candlelight vigil and walk honors the memory of 9-year-old Bobby Ellis who died of hunger on Thanksgiving Eve in 1969 sparking the creation of Louisville's anti-hunger efforts, including the Annual Hunger Walk. On Thanksgiving Eve scores of Louisvillians gather at the Plymouth Community Renewal Center and walk by candlelight and music to the corner of Hodge and Eddy Alley (about one-half mile) to show their commitment to ending the scourge of hunger that plagues one child in four in the Louisville metropolitan area.
LOCATION: Plymouth Community Renewal Center, Louisville, KY
Visit IPP's Booth at These Annual Festivals:
Mayor's International WorldFest
(Labor Day Weekend – Fri. 8/31- Sun. 9/2*)
WorldFest is the City's International Festival held annually on Labor Day Weekend. Located in Downtown Louisville on the Belvedere, WorldFest hosts the largest gathering of local ethnic restaurants, vendors and exhibitors at any one event in the state of Kentucky. This event is an opportunity to become more familiar with the International Community while honoring the traditions of our past and our future. For information about WorldFest visit www.louisvilleky.gov.
LOCATION: The Belvedere (Main Street), Louisville, KY
Festival of Faiths
(November 14-18*)
Festival of Faiths is a sustained series of annual events and programs, scheduled each year over the course of several consecutive days. The Festival's mission is to celebrate the diversity of our faiths, be grateful for our unity and strengthen the role of religion in society. For more information visit www.festivaloffaiths.org.
LOCATION: Various locations around Louisville
In addition to our annual events IPP also presents dozens of additional special events and programs throughout the year including: interfaith prayer services, concerts, meditation programs, art exhibits, book discussion groups, peace walks, film screenings, theater presentations, lectures, dinners, email updates on religious holidays and more!