diversity@work | Michael Skaljin | November 9, 2011

Panelist, Michael Skaljin is the executive director of the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition, which brings together faith groups to contribute to new public policies based upon greater justice and dignity for Ontarians marginalized by poverty. Michael also holds the position of Regional Manager, Central Ontario, Ontario Multifaith Council. In this role, he works with regional multifaith committees to give voice to and find solutions for the issues of people of various faiths in hospitals or prisons. Skaljin facilitates the work of the multifaith committees and ensures that there is enough diversity of staff on the committees to allow for better and more equitable client service. He also takes the provincial lead for the "Reintegration program", which helps ex-offenders known as "returnees" to assimilate and fit in again with society.

Luckily living multiculturalism means having the opportunity to sample and sometimes even embrace other systems of belief. For Michael Skaljin, raised a devout Catholic, now a Buddhist cleric, this opportunity has been a celebration of his spirituality and individuality.

Religion and the Roman Catholic Church played a large role in Skaljin's formative years. A child of immigrant parents of Croatian heritage, even from a young age Skaljin recognized the importance of his faith and the Church in his life. "Being raised in the Catholic Church formed my faith. God was with me to help me do better in life," says Skaljin, "The Catholic Church served as a base for the community. "It helped form my identity. It was a very safe place.

As Skaljin grew older, other interests, in particular social activism came to play a large role in his life. It was an interest that he did not see being promoted by the Roman Catholic Church in his community. And this lack of support that eventually provided the opening for a shift in Skaljin's spiritual focus.

"For me, social activism was a calling. It touched me spiritually." During his years at university he pursued this interest, directing his energies to causes such as homelessness and human rights.

Skaljin's need to combine his spiritual needs with action soon caused him to take a good look at his life. The search for answers took Skaljin on a journey to India, to visit the village of Dharamsala, where The Dalai Lama lives in exile. Studying Buddhism provided another opportunity for Skaljin to shape his destiny.

"I decided to become a Buddhist monk," says Skaljin. After making the decision he felt both exhilaration and fear. "At the time it was scary. It really departed from my traditional family values, where I was expected to marry. It was departing from that path."

In his work, Skaljin finds his faith and the preceding spiritual journey are a great help him.For Michael Skaljin the journey is not complete. He has in no way lost his connection to his Catholic upbringing. "I didn't have an aversion to Catholicism; I just had a strong attraction to Buddhism." And this means he still must try to reconcile both his present beliefs and his past faith. But every day it gets just a little bit easier.

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