On the evening of October 30, 2025, Pacifica Institute hosted a special memorial program titled “A Life of Service” in honor of Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi at our Lake Forest center in California. Friends, community members, and partners in dialogue gathered to remember a life devoted to faith, education, and service to humanity.
The program began at 7:00 pm with a warm reception and gallery walk, where guests viewed photos and reflections highlighting Hocaefendi’s lifelong commitment to education, interfaith understanding, and global humanitarian work.
A beautiful Qur’an recitation set a contemplative and spiritual tone for the evening, followed by a short video presentation on Hizmet and Fethullah Gülen, introducing his vision of faith-inspired service, dialogue, and learning.
One of the highlights of the night was the keynote reflection by
Father Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Father Smith spoke about Fethullah Gülen’s contribution to interfaith dialogue, emphasizing how his ideas and example have helped build bridges of mutual respect and understanding across religious traditions.
The program continued with personal reflections from those who served in Hizmet schools abroad, who shared heartfelt stories about how Hocaefendi’s teachings shaped their service and their lives. This was followed by moving testimonies from alumni of Hizmet schools, who spoke about the lasting impact of a values-based education rooted in compassion, responsibility, and dialogue.
In the closing remarks, speakers reflected on the theme of “a life of service” — how Fethullah Gülen’s legacy continues not simply in words, but in the ongoing acts of kindness, education, and community-building carried out by those inspired by him.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us for this meaningful evening and to all who continue to walk the path of service, dialogue, and peace.
