By Rosemary Daniels | Correspondent

In advance of a National Day of Prayer for Peace in our Communities, which the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for this fall, Catholics in the Diocese of Trenton have already begun to raise their voices in prayer.

Parishioners and faithful gathered the evening of July 25 in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Freehold, where those from throughout the Diocese were invited to gather to pray for peace and encourage hope in an uncertain world during a Mass for Peace and Hope. The Mass had concluded a novena that began July 17, during which the Prayer of St. Francis was recited at all of the parish’s daily and weekend Masses. On July 25, the church was open throughout the day for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that was held until the start of Mass.

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As part of a national movement suggested by the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic fraternal group, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson asked people to pray the Prayer of St. Francis, saying, “Through this prayer, each of us has the opportunity to help transcend hatred and violence by personally committing to the concepts of love of neighbor, peace and forgiveness that are central to an authentic embrace of Christianity. It is our hope that, from coast to coast, those who pray this prayer will become true instruments of peace.”

While the USCCB task force is encouraging all faithful to participate in the National Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities scheduled for Sept. 9, the Feast of St. Peter Claver, local faithful appreciated the Diocese providing a preliminary opportunity for people to gather and pray for peace through the Novena and Mass in in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish.

The July 25 Mass, which was celebrated by Msgr. Sam Sirianni, pastor, opened with the singing of the “Prayer of St. Francis” and concluded with “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” The congregation was dotted with many first responders, including fire, police, emergency and medical personnel.

Longtime parishioner Carol Elliot noted a different feeling in the parish, and in the country right now.

“I hope something refreshing is happening,” he said. “People are beginning to talk, starting with the first step to say ‘I’m scared’. People are afraid of the police, the police are afraid of people. We need to respect and talk to each other.

“At St. Roberts, I feel like there’s a chance now, especially with our dear Pope. His message is ‘It’s not what you’ve done wrong, but who you are and how much God loves us. If you matter to God, then you matter to each other.’”

John Toutounchi, fire commissioner of Freehold Township Independent Fire Company #1, turned out in full uniform, and brought up the gifts with his sister during the mass. Toutouchni noted that Msgr. Sirianni is the fire department’s chaplain, and “a tremendous support to us.” When Msgr. Sirianni reached out to him, asking him to invited local first responders to the Mass, Toutouchni was more than happy to oblige.

“I thought it was a great idea, to shine some light in this darkness,” he said.

Quistara Letona, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, and an EMT in town, heard about the Mass at work. “They asked us to come to pray for peace and unity. I’ll take any opportunity to pray for peace in these times.”

Preaching a homily that bore a message of hope and love, Msgr. Sirianni said, “The darkness is just passing; the light of God’s love still shines bright.”

He also charged the community with looking to themselves for change, saying “Are you willing to let peace grow in your heart? Today, there is a tendency to want to demonize. Never forget that in their own humanity is the face of the divine…Let us never let someone become so distanced from us that we fail to see they are the children of God.”

Msgr. Sirianni also noted that, while the novena had concluded, the prayers should continue. “Keep praying till it sinks into our souls,” he said.