Exploring Interfaith Holidays
The 2023 Spiritual Diversity Speaker Series continues with an Interfaith Panel Discussion on March 29 from noon to 1 p.m. The in-person event will be held in the HMRI Auditorium and will be available via livestream. The event celebrates the diverse spiritual practices and faith traditions of HM employees, physicians, nurses and patients by exploring a selection of faith holidays and their spiritual significance in the health care setting. Click HERE to register. For more information, contact Theofficeofdei@houstonmethodist.org.
Palm Sunday Begins Holy Week
Palm Sunday, which marks the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, is celebrated on April 2 and serves as the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian faith. For many, church services feature decorations and processions of palm branches and scripture readings reenacting Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. Good Friday, observed on April 7, is often a day of fasting, silence, scripture readings and reflections in remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion, and is followed by Easter Sunday on April 9.
Passover Celebrates Jewish Freedom
The festival of Passover, April 5-13, commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom. During the festival, many Jewish families get together to share evening meals called Seders. The details on how these ritual gatherings should be held are provided in the ancient book The Passover Haggadah. According to Chabad.org, the guidebook contains texts dating back to biblical times, as well as the Talmudic era, all of which come together to recreate the story of Passover and share its meaning to modern families.
Transgender Day of Visibility
Established in 2010 and recognized yearly on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility provides an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the contributions of transgender and non-binary people around the globe and acknowledge the courage and determination it takes to live openly and authentically. Created by trans advocate Rachel Crandall, the head of Transgender Michigan, and supported by Houston Methodist’s LGBTQ+ Allies employee resource group (ERG), the designation also seeks to bring attention to the poverty, discrimination and violence experienced by many members of the community.
April Cultural and Interfaith Observances
Register for Managing Unconscious Bias Workshop for Leaders
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion offers its Managing Unconscious Bias Workshop for leaders systemwide. Bias, when unresolved and unrecognized, can hinder teams from achieving true diversity and inclusivity within our organization. The workshop is an informal, judgement-free 60-minute session that equips leaders with the tools and skills necessary to recognize various types of unconscious bias and effectively begin to mitigate their effects through open discussion and action planning with fellow HM leaders. In-person sessions are available at each hospital, along with virtual sessions via Zoom. Click HERE to view available sessions and register via the LMS. Contact Kamali Archer for questions.
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