Baha’i community elects national spiritual assembly, 12 local spiritual assemblies |06 May 2014
Baha’is around the world and in Seychelles celebrated one of their most important Festivals – the Festival of Ridvan – meaning Paradise from April 21 to May 2.
It celebrates the 12 days that Baha’u’llah, the prophet founder of the Baha’i faith, spent in the garden of Ridvan in Baghdad, in preparation for his further banishment to Constantinople. It was on the first of these 12 days that Baha’u’llah made his first public announcement to his closest disciples that he was the Manifestation of God for this age as foretold by all the Holy Books of the past.
It is during this period that the worldwide Baha’i community elects its national and local institutions which comprise a body of nine members to administer the affairs of the faith, as the Baha’i faith has no clergy or priesthood.
On the evening of April 20, 12 local assemblies were reelected in the districts of La Digue, Baie Ste Anne, Victoria, Plaisance, Bel Ombre, Glacis, Anse Etoile, Pointe Larue, Anse Aux Pins, Anse Royale, Port Glaud and Anse Boileau.
From the evening of April 30 through to May 1 and 2, the Baha’i community of Seychelles held its 43rd annual national convention at the Baha’i Centre, Roch Lane. The main purpose of the convention was to receive, read and reflect on the message from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha’i community, which details the plans for the coming year.
Apart from reflecting and consulting on the forthcoming plans and lines of action the highlight of the convention is the election of the national spiritual assembly, an election which was done on Thursday evening, in an atmosphere of quiet solemnity, sacredness and spirituality. The convention concluded on Friday evening.
The newly elected Baha’i national spiritual assembly comprises Felix Charles, Desmond Bouchereau, Pierre Jeanie, Antonio Gopal, Vassen Munisamy, Lisa Padayachy, Regina Prosper, Sarah Rene and Dr Selwyn Gendron.
