Praying for Peace for the Dear Neighbor

Communications Office

On the evening of December 19th, sisters, associates, agrégées, partners in mission, and neighbors from the area gathered to pray for peace. This event was inspired by many ongoing issues… As the Israel/Palestinian conflict continues, as Russia presses onward to claim a country that so desperately wishes to maintain its independence, and as our neighbors in America deal with countless struggles, we seek hope and truth. We seek community. We seek a dialogue with God to make sense of the turmoil, the tragedy, and the senseless suffering.

During the candle lighting prayers, sisters and members of the community lit six pillar candles which represented Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, and lastly, all peoples of the world. A quiet reflection followed, allowing those gathered to process and contemplate the many struggles faced by the world.

Closing the service, attendees sang “This is My Song” to the tune of Finlandia, which beautifully encapsulated the culminating thoughts, hopes and prayers within the room. The lyrics, “But other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine…” and “But other lands have sunlight too, and clover; And skies are ev’rywhere as blue as mine…” remind us of the beauty of our neighbor’s cultures. Ethnocentrism, as wrong as it may be, is an inherent trait that humanity must continuously catch and correct.    

The prayer for peace ended at 5:30 pm, but several people remained afterward, sitting quietly, dwelling on the thoughts shared that evening.