The Bahá’ís of Southeastern Massachusetts
This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Bahá’u’lláh
The Partners in Racial Justice are hosting an uplifting devotional space celebrating the vision of the oneness of mankind. This month’s devotional will be dedicated to our dear Martha Elliot.
Black & Indigenouus Call - Going Up Yonder!!
Devotionals - Children's Classes - Book Clubs - Study Classes - Race Amity Discussions - Holy Day Celebrations - Junior Youth Empowerment Programs - Firesides
For further information or for any general questions you may have, please contact us here.
Devotionals - please contact us for upcoming zoom dates and time
Make firm our steps, O Lord, in Thy path and strengthen Thou our hearts in Thine obedience. Turn our faces toward the beauty of Thy oneness, and gladden our bosoms with the signs of Thy divine unity. Adorn our bodies with the robe of Thy bounty, and remove from our eyes the veil of sinfulness, and give us the chalice of Thy grace; that the essence of all beings may sing Thy praise before the vision of Thy grandeur. Reveal then Thyself, O Lord, by Thy merciful utterance and the mystery of Thy divine being, that the holy ecstasy of prayer may fill our souls—a prayer that shall rise above words and letters and transcend the murmur of syllables and sounds—that all things may be merged into nothingness before the revelation of Thy splendor.
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Study Circles
The Bahá'is have developed a series of spiritual educational courses which are usually conducted in small group settings over several sessions. There are trained tutors throughout the area who would be glad to include you in these studies. Please click here to see a summary of classes available.
Holy Day Celebrations
Naw-Rúz (Mar 21): The Baha’i New Year’s Day coincides with the spring equinox. Naw-Rúz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the “new day” and for Baha’is it marks the end of the annual 19-Day Fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Festival of Ridván The annual Baha’i festival commemorates the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age. Elections for local, national and international Baha’i institutions are generally held during the Festival of Ridvan. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Declaration of the Báb (May 23): This Holy Day commemorates May 23, 1844, when the Báb, the herald of the Baha’i Faith, announced in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that He was the Herald of a new Messenger of God. It is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (May 28): Baha’is observe the anniversary of the death in exile of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, on May 29, 1892, outside Akko (also known as Akka or Acre), in what is now northern Israel. It is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Martyrdom of the Báb (Jul 10): The holy day commemorates the anniversary of the execution of the Báb (Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad), the herald of the Baha’i Faith, by a firing squad on July 9, 1850, in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran). It is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Twin Holy Birthdays: The Birth of the Báb (October 20, 1819) and the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (November 12, 1817) occurred on consecutive days according to the Islamic lunar calendar (1 and 2 Muharram, respectively). These Holy Days are celebrated on the first and second days of the eighth lunar month after Naw-Rúz, and may fall as early as October 20-21 and as late as November 11-12. They are two of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Nov 28): Baha’is observe the anniversary of the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá’u’lláh and His appointed successor, on Nov 28, 1921 in Haifa, in what is now northern Israel.
Firesides
Firesides are informal discussions hosted by Baha'i individuals and are one of the best ways to learn more about the faith. They can be conducted in homes, at public sites or for now, in virtual settings.
Children's and Junior Youth Classes
“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit there from.” - from the Baha'i writings
Bahá’ís see the young as the most precious treasure a community can possess. In them are the promise and guarantee of the future. Yet, in order for this promise to be realised, children need to receive spiritual nourishment. In a world where the joy and innocence of childhood can be so easily overwhelmed by the aggressive pursuit of materialistic ends, the moral and spiritual education of children assumes vital importance.