Goals and Rationale of the Organization

The Path of Light organization was formed in early 2006 in Montreal by a small group, initially comprised primarily of Canadian Muslim converts.  The formation of this organization was in response to a perceived need for quality events and activities in English and French that was not being satisfied sufficiently by programming at existing Muslim centers in Montreal, at least amongst the Shia Muslim community of Montreal.  Existing centers operate primarily in the native languages of the cultural communities which they represent, and on the whole do not make a great deal of effort as yet to accommodate those who do do not speak these languages.  This serves as a barrier which serves to alienate large portions of three groups crucial to the growth of the Muslim community: 1)Muslim youth 2)New converts and 3)Outsiders to the community interested in learning about the religion.  In addition, such a cultural language based system serves also to divide members of different cultural communities and prevent them from more fully sharing in each others' events.

The group was, and is organized around two broad goals.  First, to develop and carry out activities and programs in English and French in and around Montreal that are oriented toward a Canadian audience, with three target audiences in mind: 1)Canadian Muslim converts 2)Muslim youth  3)Non-Muslims in the Montreal community interested in learning about Islam and Muslims.  The second broad goal is to get organized and work toward starting up a new center  which will offer programs and services in English and French as primary languages, directed toward the three target audiences mentioned above.  It is hoped that a center operating in this way will serve as more effective bridge between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Montreal.

It should be noted that the idea here is not to compete with or replace the existing centers.  Rather, it is an attempt to fulfill unmet needs of the Montreal Muslim community and to act as an example and inspiration for existing centers as to new and innovative ways of functioning that we believe will be highly effective, if not essential for those Islamic centers which wish to survive, and thrive in this country in the coming years and decades.  

In these efforts we seek God's guidance and blessing and pray for success.

   Goals and Rationale  --  Past Events and Activities  --   Future Plans                 

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