The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council is inviting the public to view and discuss the film “Mission: Joy,” a documentary featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu sharing wisdom of how to live with joy in troubled times.

The film and discussion are part of the Council’s observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which runs Feb. 1-7.

The Council is offering the public two choices to view the film: in-person and online.

  • The film will be shown on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, 6:30 p.m. at Southwood United Church of Christ, 7904 Raytown Road, Raytown, Missouri. Registration is required and viewers must wear masks. Register here.
  • The public can also view the film online anytime from Feb. 1 through Feb. 3 by registering here.

Registrants will receive a link to view the film via email the morning of Feb. 1 that will be good for three days. They will also receive an invitation from the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council to join a Zoom discussion of the film on Feb. 14 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

To make “Mission: Joy,” the filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu over five days at the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala. The film invites viewers to join these luminaries behind the scenes as they recount stories from their lives, each having lived through periods of incredible difficulty and strife.

With genuine affection, mutual respect and a healthy dose of teasing, these unlikely friends impart lessons gleaned from lived experience, ancient traditions, and the latest cutting-edge science regarding how to live with joy in the face of all of life’s challenges.

“Mission: Joy” has been called “deeply moving,” “laugh-out-loud funny” and “a master class in how to create joy in the world.” Learn more about this film here.

World Interfaith Harmony Week was adopted by UN General Assembly in 2010. Marked annually on the first week of February, World Interfaith Harmony Week aims to provide a platform for interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to show the world what a powerful movement they are.

The U.N. resolution establishing World Interfaith Harmony Week, “reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.” Learn more about World Interfaith Harmony Week here.

Photo copyright by “Mission: Joy” and Miranda Penn Turin. Used with Permission.