“Building Healthy Sanghas: Embracing Generosity and Openness” will be the theme of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Buddhist Women’s Association shinnen enkai (New Year’s party) and general membership meeting on Sunday, Jan. 26, in the Sangha Hall.
Rimban Shindo Nishiyama will conduct the service. Registration will start at 9:30 a.m. and the service and party at 10. New members will be introduced, followed by a full program that will also include BINGO.
The five BWA members from Hilo who attended the 2019 World Buddhist Women’s Convention in San Francisco will share their impressions of the international gathering that attracted 1,700 delegates from around the world. Hilo BWA was represented by president Carole Tsutsumi, Ellen Okano, Barbara Fujimoto, Theo Kushi and BJ Soriano, all of whom attended the convention for the first time. Soriano, who has led Hilo Hongwanji’s choir since 2007, was asked to speak on the subject, “Living the Nembutsu by Music.”
The next BWA World Convention will be held in Kyöto in 2023.
