01:00 AM EST on Saturday, March 4, 2006

'Spiritual Road Map'

Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will hold a regional seminar on the "Spiritual Road Map for Your Journey Home to God" today and tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

Today's session is free and will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (401) 738-4727.

History of R.I. synagogues Synagogues of Rhode Island, a four-part series on the history of the establishment and growth of synagogues in Rhode Island, begins tomorrow when George Goodwin takes a look at Temple Beth-El in Providence.

Subsequent dates and destinations include:

March 12 -- Sons of Jacob, Orms Street, Providence, led by Harold Silverman

March 19 -- United Brothers Synagogue in Bristol, led by Dr. Michael Scheff

March 26 -- Congregation B'nai Israel in Woonsocket, led by Jeremy Brenner

All sessions will run from 10 a.m. to noon. The course fee is $10, payable at the first session.

Addressing the sex-abuse scandal Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) of Greater Providence will present a talk on "The Sexual Abuse Scandal in the Catholic Church -- A Parent's Perspective" Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Francis Chapel & City Ministry Center, 58 Weybosset St., Providence. The featured speaker is Paul F. Kellen, executive secretary of People of Conscience and a prominent activist for victims' rights. Parking and admission are free.

Discussion of violence The Rev. Russell Ruffino will lead a discussion on "Religion -- A Major Player in the Realm of Violence," Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in the first in a series of four free public discussions on violence to be held at St. Peters-by-the-Sea Church, 72 Central St., Narragansett.

Benefit concert The fourth annual benefit concert for South Providence Neighborhood Ministries will be next Sunday, March 12, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Providence, 372 Wayland Ave.

Performers will include Cheryl Albright and Jan McMurry, the Woonsocket Middle School Chorus, the Joy Praise Team of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, the Community Church of Providence choir, the Greenville Vocal Ensemble and The Sounds of SPNM.

Donations of canned goods for the SPNM food pantry are welcome, as are free-will offerings. For information, call (401) 461-7509.

Religious education workshop The 39th Annual Diocesan Religious Education Workshop Day will be held Saturday, March 18, at Bryant University, starting with a 9 a.m. Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, bishop of Providence.

International speaker Barbara Wright, a member of the board for The Providence Visitor, will address the workshop in English. Pilar Latorre, assistant archdiocesan director for the Spanish-speaking in the Archdiocese of Boston, will address the theme in Spanish.

Registration deadline is Wednesday. For information, call (401) 278-4646 or e-mail diocese-ore@verizon.net.

Spiritual healing Heloisa Gelber Rivas, C.S.B., president of the First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston, will answer questions about spiritual healing Wednesday at 6 p.m. during a live broadcast on WALE 990AM.

She will also discuss "Is Spiritual Healing a Miracle?" next Saturday in English at 1 p.m. and in Spanish at 2:30 at the Attleboro Public Library, 74 North Main St. Free parking and child care will be available.