Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day.
Peace and reconciliation are part of our DNA as RSCJ - whether we work for peace with the women in northern Uganda or teach the ways of peace to adolescents in the Republic of Korea, our search for peace is an integral part of our spirituality of the heart.
This year, the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the USG/UISG Secretariat in Rome has prepared a prayer service for September 21, the International Day of Peace. Introducing the prayer, the Commission writes:
Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.
Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or, it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. If millions of people in all parts of the world come together for one day of peace, the impact will be immense.
The prayer is available in multiple languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese and English. The English version can be found here.
Cecile Meijer, rscj
NGO Office – August 2011
