Bahá’í community members Marlene Morris, Jill Butterfield, John Butterfield, Catherine Morris and Mary Connell. Picture: ROB CURRIE (00584236)

DIFFERENT faiths are being encouraged to develop understanding and harmony between one another next week as part of the Bahá’í celebration of World Religion Day.

The annual event is usually marked on or near the third Sunday in January, but Bahá’ís in Jersey have this year chosen to use next Tuesday for the celebration to avoid interfering with other religious services held on Sundays.

Although there will be no formal event to mark the occasion, Marlene Morris of the Jersey Bahá’í community said that Islanders should still take on board the messages of the day and reflect on them in their own way.

‘Whether you are of no particular faith, on a spiritual quest or firm in your own beliefs but recognise that only spiritual principles will ultimately bring about a bright future, you have a great deal in common with the Bahá’ís working towards a united world,’ she said.

The theme of this year’s day is ‘a time of great prospects’, and having just entered a new decade Mrs Morris said that now was the right time to consider what the future holds.