Heal ourselves before healing the Earth

Mother's Day, observed on the second Sunday of May since 1908, is widely celebrated as a tribute to mothers' love, sacrifice, and unwavering support.

- DEBASISH BHATTACHARYYA

Yet, in its purest form, it is more than a celebration, more than a token phrase or a date on the calendar; it is an invocation - calling upon us to honor the nurturing spirit that sustains all life: Mother Earth, our mothers, and ourselves.

Although this momentous occasion has, over time, grown in scale, style, pomp, and grandeur, its true essence lies much deeper. It is a sacred moment - a time for soulful reflection and a heartfelt reimagining of our bond with the living world.

And in this spirit, the Chicago-headquartered Parliament of the World's Religions (PoWR) hosted an enriching interfaith and intergenerational dialogue titled "Sacred Circle Conversation: Honoring Mother Earth, Our Mothers, Ourselves, and One Another" to mark Mother's Day on May 11 this year.

Anchored in a deep reverence for Mother Earth, the conversation envisioned a transformative path for humanity - shifting from a culture of conflict to one of peace, from seeing life as a mere resource to embracing it as a shared community, and from patterns of exploitation to principles of regeneration. At its heart, the dialogue reaffirmed a collective commitment to well-being and the sacred interdependence that binds all forms of life.

On behalf of PoWR, which strives to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world, Rev. Charline Manuel, Chair of PoWR's Board of Trustees, moderated the session that brought together voices from across the globe, united by a shared resolve to restore reverence for the Earth and for the women who sustain life in all its forms.