of Oakville
Activities & Service
In neighbourhoods across the country, Bahá’ís and their friends are engaged in a community building process that cultivates love and translates it into action.
“To be a Bahá’í simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.”
— 'ABDU'L-BAHÁ
Spirit of Service
At the heart of the Bahá’í Faith is the spirit of service to humanity. As such, Bahá’í communities around the world are actively engaged in different ways to see how they can contribute to the well-being of their neighbours, communities and each other. Here in Oakville, we are focused on four core activities that help form a strong spiritual foundation for the material and spiritual advancement of society - they are:
1. Classes for the Spiritual Education of Children
2. The Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program
3. Study Circles for Youth and Adults
4. Regular Devotional Gatherings
Children's Classes
Ages 4-10
"Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future."
- The Universal House of Justice
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Bahá’í classes for the spiritual education of children, open to all, are offered throughout the year to children ages 4-10. They are based on a curriculum that emphasizes the development of virtues and skills, and helps them to understand the world around them through stories, games, arts and crafts, memorization and reflection. The curriculum also helps to develop their understanding of the Bahá’í Faith and the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, its founder.
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Please contact us to find out more about the program or to enrol your child in one of our classes.
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Junior Youth Empowerment Program
Ages 11-14
Instead of seeing this age group as problematic, unresponsive and self-consumed, the Bahá’ís see in junior youth "an acute sense of justice, eagerness to learn about the universe and a desire to contribute to the construction of a better world."
- The Universal House of Justice
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The Junior Youth Empowerment Program strives to equip young people with a profound understanding of their own potential. It aims to enhance their power of expression, their understanding of justice, their understanding of the society around them and their ability to impact their own environment.
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Classes are offered throughout the year and facilitated by an older youth, someone who has been trained in the curriculum and who acts as a sort of mentor throughout their three years in the program.
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Some of the main themes are:
Glimmerings of Hope
Habits of an Orderly Mind
Learning About Excellence
Walking the Straight Path
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All are welcome to participate in this program. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about it or to enrol your child in this program.
Study Circles for
Youth & Adults
A study circle is a small group that meets at least once or twice a week for a few hours, usually in the home of one of its members, to study a series of courses based on the Bahá’í Writings using the materials developed by the Ruhi Institute. Anyone aged fifteen or older, whether a Bahá’í or not, is welcome to take part.
The purpose of Bahá’í study circles is to provide participants with the knowledge, spiritual insights and skills to enable them to contribute to the betterment of society, starting with their own neighbourhood. Participants reflect on the passages in the curriculum and see how they might apply to their own lives, or in their service to the larger community.
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Courses are offered throughout the year and cover many topics that pertain to individual and community development.
Please feel free to contact us to learn more about the curriculum or how to participate.
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Prayer Gatherings
In the Bahá’í Faith, prayer (or devotional) gatherings are seen as an important building block to a prosperous society. Through communal worship and elevated conversations, natural bonds of unity are cultivated and a sense of common purpose is strengthened.
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Bahá’ís and their friends gather in informal settings across the community to offer prayers in a spirit of worship. There are no leaders or rituals in these gatherings, but rather individuals offer prayers and songs as they are inspired to do so. ​
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Typically prayers are read from the sacred Baha'i Writings and can touch on many themes including prayers for peace, children, unity, the departed, family, aid and assistance, detachment, spiritual growth and forgiveness.
Get in Touch
Are you interested to know more about the Bahá'í Faith or community events? Please leave your name and email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. You can also reach us directly at: (905)-845-5555