Updated 31 December 2023
December 2023
BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes was included on the Infinite Women website for her role as the first female Buddhist Fire Chaplain.
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/women/jacquetta-gomes/
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/category/religion/
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/tag/buddhist/
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/about-us/
Weblinkhttps://www.infinite-women.com/?s=Jacquetta+Gomes
December 2023
Venerable Pidiville Piyatissa Head of Ketumati Buddhist Vihara Manchester has recently been appointed as the Chief Sangha Nayaka for England by the Karaka Sangha Sabha of the Siyamopali Maha Viharawansika Maha Nikaya, Malwatta Chapter Kandy Sri Lanka. A Felicitation Ceremony will be held in Manchester on 10 December. He has taught BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada) since October 1999.
November 2023
Inter Faith Week 2023
INTERFAITH WEEK 12 – 19 November 2023
BGKT participated in Inter Faith Week
https://www.interfaithweek.org/
The IFN Interfaith Network for the UK included Kendal
Kendal is included every year in Events by Town
https://www.interfaithweek.org/events/by-town
Inter Faith Week Website
IFN Inter Faith Network for the UK posted Kendal on the Inter Faith Week website.
21.11.23 Inter Faith Week 12 -19 November 2023 – Sample of activities held to mark Inter Faith Week 2023
https://www.interfaithweek.org/news/sample-of-activities-held-to-mark-inter-faith-week-2023
Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) Open Meeting – participate from home
7.10.20 Fire and Rescue Services on the Inter Faith Week Website
https://www.interfaithweek.org/resources/fire-and-rescue-services-2020
Kendal Town Council Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/kendaltowncouncil
Kendal Town Council Facebook 21 November 2023
“Kendal contributed to Inter Faith Week…..”
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=666818822229916&set=a.266253088953160
November 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group on 7 November 2023.
October 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group on 10 October 2023.
October 2023
Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili Jacquetta Gomes gave a Guest Lecture “Development of the Precepts in the West (Bodhicari Precepts, 8 Uposatha Precepts, Eight Precepts with Right Livelihood)”, to Dhamma USA on 2 October 2023.
Weblinkhttps://www.dhammausa.com/
The talk is available on youtube
Weblinkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjk5wD6O77U
September 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group on 19 September 2023.
August 2023
2023 18 August “BHCT Buddhist Healthcare Chaplaincy Trust, Fire Chaplaincy [Fire Chaplain Jacquetta Gomes]”, Chaplaincy Everywhere Chaplaincy + Social Justice Newsletter.
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=fdb5471de37e774e5456d8fbc&id=a4be7999dc
Chaplaincy Everywhere Chaplaincy + Social Justice Newsletter Archive
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=fdb5471de37e774e5456d8fbc&id=4f1fae2123
August 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 1 August 2023. On 1 August 2023 he visited Kendal Unitarian Chapel with members of BGKT (who have met at Kendal Unitarian Chapel for 30 years) to see the new Multi-faith Garden of Remembrance and view the Chapel. He previously visited the Unitarian Chapel on 27 August 2017.
“Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma Visit 1 August 2023”, Kendal Unitarian Chapel Connections, 109, 18 August 2023.
July 2023
CUF Cumbria Unity Festival
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/cumbria-unity-festival-2023
BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes is a member of the Organising Committee.
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/categories/organising-committee
Kendal Unity Festival Saturday 22 July 2023. BGKT participated.
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/node/142
http://cumbriaunity.org/kendal-unity-festival-2023
Mindfulness Session led by John Gerrard Upasaka Sumedha and Duncan Fisher Upasaka Dhammika on behalf of BGKT at Kendal Town Hall from 11.30am – 12.30pm.
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/mindfulness-session
BGKT assisted with the multifaith Quiet Room for meditation/prayer/reflection from 10am – 4pm at Kendal Town Hall.
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/index.php/quiet-room
BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes is a member of the Organising Committee.
http://www.cumbriaunity.org/categories/organising-committee
July 2023
Civic Celebration for Mayor’s Sunday Kendal 2 July 2023
Kendal Civic Celebration for Mayor’s Sunday led by The Worshipful the Town Mayor Councillor Julia Dunlop on Sunday 2 July 2023, included an invitation from the Mayor to faith groups in Kendal.
BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes (also WFEDP Lead on Interfaith and Multifaith) represented BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada), SLIF South Lakeland Interfaith Forum and WFEDP Westmorland and Furness Equality and Diversity Partnership. She walked in the Procession and attended the Mayor’s Sunday Service in Kendal Parish Church.
June 2023
Bhante Bodhidhamma Head of Satipanya Buddhist Trust visited The Quaker Tapestry Kendal on Friday 30 June 2023. He was the guest of BGKT Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group (Theravada). Keswick Buddhist Group is the oldest Theravada Buddhist Group in Cumbria founded in 1989.
Weblinkhttps://www.satipanya.org.uk/
June 2023
“HM The King’s Coronation” by Jacquetta Gomes, WCF World Congress of Faiths Newsletter, (Summer 2023).
Weblinkhttps://worldfaiths.org/
Weblinkhttps://worldfaiths.org/news-and-blogs/
May 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group on 23 May 2023.
May 2023
“Class Notes: Jacquetta Gomes”, Durham Newswire (May 2023) includes Jacquetta Gomes BGKT Secretary, SLEDP Lead on Interfaith and Multifaith and Durham University Alumna.
https://www.dunelm.org.uk/news
https://www.dunelm.org.uk/news/newswire
May 2023
BGKT Treasurer John Gerrard Upasaka Sumedha (representing BGKT) and BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili (SLEDP South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership Lead on Interfaith and Multifaith representing SLEDP) have been invited by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria to participate in a service at Carlisle Cathedral to Celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Weblinkhttps://carlislecathedral.org.uk/coronation-of-king-charles-iii-celebrations-at-carlisle-cathedral/
May 2023
2023 5 May “BHCT Buddhist Healthcare Chaplaincy Trust Fire Chaplaincy [Fire Chaplain Jacquetta Gomes]”, Chaplaincy Everywhere Chaplaincy + Social Justice Newsletter
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=fdb5471de37e774e5456d8fbc&id=3e2b18d123
Chaplaincy Everywhere Chaplaincy + Social Justice Newsletter Archive
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=fdb5471de37e774e5456d8fbc&id=4f1fae2123
May 2023
BGKT’s Vesak Celebration took place on May 5 evening at Kendal Unitarian Chapel. The Mayor of Kendal Councillor Julia Dunlop attended.
Weblink: https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/vesak/
Weblink: https://www.buddhistgroupofkendal.co.uk/vesak-timetable-for-home-celebration/
April 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 18 April 2023.
March 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 14 March 2023.
February 2023
“Class Notes: Jacquetta Gomes”, Durham Newswire (February 2023) includes Jacquetta Gomes BGKT Secretary, SLEDP Lead on Interfaith and Multifaith and Durham University Alumna.
https://www.dunelm.org.uk/news
https://www.dunelm.org.uk/news/newswire
February 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) and Keswick Buddhist Group on 21 February 2023.
February 2023
7 February 2023 “How the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab helped me in 2022”, Jacquetta Gomes, Fire Chaplain, United Kingdom
https://chaplaincyinnovation.org/2023/02/how-the-lab-helped-me-in-2022
February 2023
WIHW World Interfaith Harmony Week 1 – 7 February 2023
Website:https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/
BGKT participated in WIHW World Interfaith Harmony Week events in Kendal. These are included on the WIHW website.
Website Events 2023:https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/event-calendar/
Event: SLEDP South Lakeland Equality and Diversity Partnership Golden Rule 2 sessions every day of WIHW
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/pec-events/sledp-south-lakeland-equality-and-diversity-partnership-golden-rule-2-sessions-every-day-of-wihw/
Website Reports 2023:https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/reports-2023/
Report: WIHW The World Interfaith Harmony Week February 1-7 2023 in South Lakeland England UK
https://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/view-reports/?report=72500
KTC Kendal Town Council Facebook page
“Wonderful to see a gathering in the Mayor’s Parlour as part of World Interfaith Harmony Week”, KTC Kendal Town Council Facebook page,2 February 2023.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=509471511297982&set=a.266253082286494
https://www.facebook.com/kendaltowncouncil/posts/pfbid02ZPeLiQUPwPvpCgLV8XDPVvhv9kDeb2fzH53XMjnGjbhHCFAsQxRxTsYmJqrbVE7bl?__tn__=%252
January 2023
Sakyadhita UK (International Association of Buddhist Women) UK Branch Newsletter
Sakyadhita UK Newsletter Archive
https://us2.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=83a4031257a79579b64d19418&id=759e390dab
2023 24 January “BEWES Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services”, Sakyadhita [International Association of Buddhist Women] UK Newsletter, January 2023 Newsletter (17 January 2023).
https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=83a4031257a79579b64d19418&id=1ffa91eb0f
January 2023
Buddhist Monk Venerable Mahalova Ariyadhamma (who lives in a forest in Sri Lanka) led a meditation and Buddhist Teaching meeting for Buddhist Group of Kendal (Theravada) on 12 January 2023.
January 2023
Sakyadhita UK (International Association of Buddhist Women) UK Branch
4 January 2023, 7:30 – 8:30 pm Informal conversation following on December’s talk on Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services (BEWES).
Sakyadhita UK (International Association of Buddhist Women) UK Branch
Weblinkhttps://sakyadhitauk.org/events/
BGKT Secretary Jacquetta Gomes Bodhicarini Upasika Jayasili gave a talk about BEWES Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services for Sakyadhita UK (International Association of Buddhist Women) UK Branch on Wednesday 7 December 2022.BEWES Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services developed from Faith and Fire in 2014. BEWES is an informal unofficial group which facilitates contact without liability, between Buddhists (firefighters, advisors, chaplains, volunteers, etc.) working with emergency services and related organisations.
BEWES has a Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/BEWES-Buddhists-Engaged-with-Emergency-Services-810763728983799/
Jacquetta Gomes was involved in the development of Faith and Fire (started January 2013) and BEWES (started December 2014). She is acknowledged as the first female Buddhist Fire Chaplain in the world.
Sakyadhita UK 7 December 2022 Talk on BEWES Buddhists Engaged with Emergency Services
https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=83a4031257a79579b64d19418&id=c2e1eb12d8