URI Regional Coordinator for Pakistan Father James Channan is in Helsinki, Finland this week to participate in the Finnish Social Forum and give a lecture on Christian-Muslim dialogue at the University of Helsinki. The 12-day trip, which includes a visit to Sweden, was organized by former URI trustee Heidi Rautionmaa, the Forum of Religions and Convictions in Helsinki Cooperation Circle and Kaupunki yhteisönä ry (Living together in Cities). Father James, a Dominican priest and long-time URI leader has been a tireless advocate for and leader of interfaith work in Pakistan.

The Finnish Social Forum is part of the World Social Forum movement, an effort to promote dialogue and cooperation among different social movements that was started in 2001. This year’s themes are justice and fairness. Father James will participate in a panel on peacebuilding.

“A few years ago Mussie Hailu participated the Social Forum in Finland,” Ms. Rautionmaa wrote in an email. “Despina Namwembe, Heng Sure, Dr. Shlomo Alon and Karimah Stauch have all been able to visit Finland. I would say that this makes us here very small that we have had such great guests.

“What a gift there is to have this network.”

In addition to his speaking engagements in Helsinki, Father James will give a lecture at a university in the southwestern city of Turku and meet with religious, interfaith and government leaders in both Finland and Sweden. He will also visit with members of the URI community in the region and participate in a URI event in Helsinki on dialogue in Finland and Pakistan.

“Father James has taken a long journey to come up to the north,” said Ms. Rautionmaa. “It is appreciated. He has many important messages to tell to the people here.”