The Rotary Club of Swarthmore invites members of the community to a screening of the film Mission: JOY on May 12th at the Park Avenue Community Center. Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, Mission: JOY is a documentary highlighting the unlikely friendship between two international icons who transcend religion: His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In their final joint mission, these self-described mischievous brothers give a master class in how to create joy in a world that was never easy for them.
The film consists largely of never-before-seen footage shot over 5 days at the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala. Viewers 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, the two 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, from the extraordinary to the mundane.
The screening on May 12th at the PAC Center begins at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a discussion and Q&A. No registration is required, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Swarthmore, this event is free of charge and is intended to raise awareness for First Place Swarthmore, an initiative to provide short-term housing to refugees arriving in our region. Representatives of First Place Swarthmore will be on hand at the PAC Center to sell popcorn and other refreshments and to accept voluntary donations.
Swarthmore Rotary President Kathryn Jones, M.D. explains, “Our Rotary International motto is, ‘service above self’. This screening of Mission: JOY is intended as a service to our community, because we can all use a little more joy in our lives. When we learned about First Place Swarthmore, our club members saw an opportunity to collaborate with neighbors helping people in need. We hope folks will enjoy the film and be encouraged to support First Place Swarthmore.”
The film Mission: JOY is suitable for a wide audience, including mature teens. However, it contains archival footage from Tibet and South Africa that may be disturbing to young viewers. Parents are asked to exercise discretion. Note that the PAC Center requires face masks be worn indoors, except when eating or drinking.
Hosted by Swarthmore Rotary and First Place Swarthmore