UPDATED: Diocese joins in worldwide Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Syria
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and faithful from the Diocese of Trenton prayed with Catholics throughout the world in response to Pope Francis’ universal call for prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world Sept. 7.
While Bishop O’Connell was principal celebrant of the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, other parishes from around the diocese observed the day with prayer services Eucharistic adoration, holy hours and Masses that were celebrated for the intention of peace in the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
To see photo galleries on this story, click here.
To see a YouTube video of the interfaith service in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, click here.
“Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Jesus Christ’s own vicar on earth and Shepherd of the Catholic Church, has asked for an end to violence, making a ‘heartfelt appeal’ to our leaders, here and throughout the world, ‘to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution,’ urging them to seek the dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Syria, now engulfed in civil war,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily.
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, celebrated a Mass for Peace in the morning then offered two opportunities to recite the Rosary for the intentions of peace at noon and at 3 p.m.
In St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, more than 800 faithful – parishioners and visitors alike responded - to the pope’s call for prayer for peace.
On a day redolent with symbolism of the Virgin Mary’s exceptional role as an intercessor for peace, they stayed after morning Mass to pray the Rosary for that intention so dear to the heart of the Holy Father.
After the 4:30 p.m. Mass, they settled back down on their knees to join in Eucharistic Adoration mindful that they joined untold numbers of men, women and children around the world petitioning for a resolution of the Syrian conflict through dialogue instead of military strikes.
In his homily at the morning Mass, Father Edward Jawidzik, parochial vicar, noted that the international day of prayer and fasting coincided with the first Saturday of the month, a day known for devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as with the eve of Our Lady’s Sept. 8 birthday.
“This is the memorial of Our Lady, Queen of Peace,” he said. “Our Holy Father asked for a day not only for Syria, but anywhere in the world,” and invited those present to spend some time in the presence of a statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace, which was thoughtfully placed in the gathering space.
Among them were Priscilla Lagdameo and her friend, Joan Coraggio, both members of St. Veronica Parish, Howell.
“It is so appropriate to pray the Rosary for Peace,” Lagdameo said. “We have known in the past that the Blessed Mother intercedes for us in times of war and great trouble.”
Before the always well attended 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass began, Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, pastor, said in a moving homily, “We know how violent the world is. We have been shocked and overwhelmed … but wars do not change human hearts, prayers do.”
He told the congregation of more than 700, “Our Holy Father challenged us to be people of peace… people of peace in our community and in our lives. He said we need to work to build peace among people. We need to help establish a firm foundation for peace especially in Syria and in Egypt and see that the rights of all, Christians included, are respected.”
To be among the millions of people around the world praying for peace because the pope asked them to, “that was very important,” said parishioner Linda Moldenhouer. “Some days we lose touch with what happens in Rome,” she said, then added that thankfully, this day was not one of them.
People of all faith traditions were welcomed into St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, for an Interfaith Hour of Prayer and Song for Peace in Syria that the parish co-sponsored with the Princeton-based Coalition of Peace Action. CFPA is a regional organization dedicated to abolition of nuclear weapons, a peace economy and a halt to weapons trafficking at home and abroad.
For the 7 p.m. service an appropriate, prayerful display was created in the sanctuary of a dimly lit church. Before the altar table was a screen holding hundreds of flickering red and white votive candles. Suspended from the ceiling was a display of origami cranes, which has become the international symbol of peace that surrounded a colorful globe. The Paper Cranes for Peace, according to Msgr. Vincent Gartland, pastor, were made in 2001 following the 9-11 terrorist attacks and have since been used for annual parish 9/11 anniversary remembrances and other global solidarity observances.
During the hour, more than 100 attendees participated in the simple service that included a brief introduction and prayer led by Msgr. Gartland, followed by reflections from writings on peace and a special Litany for Peace for Syria. Members of the parish’s Sunday 12:30 p.m. band led the gathering in the singing of peace-themed liturgical hymns, “Prayer of St. Francis,” “Dona Nobis Pacem,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “We are Called,” along with secular pieces, Blowin’ In the Wind,” “Let It Be” and “Down By the Riverside.” The service concluded with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
Parishioner Erica Dekranes, who is an international relations major in the University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, was excited to hear of the Holy Father’s call for vigils and prayers for peace “all over the globe as well as in my own area.”
“I believe that the nature of a lot of conflicts in the world today are intercommunal and interfaith and it’s extremely imporrtant to include all faiths to create a bond” and work together to establish peace, said Dekranes, who also interned with CFPA.
Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of CFPA and a Protestant minister, was pleased for the opportunity for CFPA and St. Ann Parish to collaborate on the Interfaith Hour of Prayer and Song for Peace in Syria.
“All the great faith traditions affirm peace as a central value,” Rev. Moore said, “so we need to stand together and pray for peace together.”
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Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and faithful from the Diocese of Trenton prayed with Catholics throughout the world in response to Pope Francis’ universal call for prayer and fasting for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world Sept. 7.
While Bishop O’Connell was principal celebrant of the 4 p.m. Vigil Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, other parishes from around the diocese observed the day with prayer services Eucharistic adoration, holy hours and Masses that were celebrated for the intention of peace in the war-torn Middle Eastern country.
To see photo galleries on this story, click here.
To see a YouTube video of the interfaith service in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, click here.
“Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Jesus Christ’s own vicar on earth and Shepherd of the Catholic Church, has asked for an end to violence, making a ‘heartfelt appeal’ to our leaders, here and throughout the world, ‘to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution,’ urging them to seek the dialogue and reconciliation that will bring peace to Syria, now engulfed in civil war,” Bishop O’Connell said in his homily.
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson, celebrated a Mass for Peace in the morning then offered two opportunities to recite the Rosary for the intentions of peace at noon and at 3 p.m.
In St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, more than 800 faithful – parishioners and visitors alike responded - to the pope’s call for prayer for peace.
On a day redolent with symbolism of the Virgin Mary’s exceptional role as an intercessor for peace, they stayed after morning Mass to pray the Rosary for that intention so dear to the heart of the Holy Father.
After the 4:30 p.m. Mass, they settled back down on their knees to join in Eucharistic Adoration mindful that they joined untold numbers of men, women and children around the world petitioning for a resolution of the Syrian conflict through dialogue instead of military strikes.
In his homily at the morning Mass, Father Edward Jawidzik, parochial vicar, noted that the international day of prayer and fasting coincided with the first Saturday of the month, a day known for devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as well as with the eve of Our Lady’s Sept. 8 birthday.
“This is the memorial of Our Lady, Queen of Peace,” he said. “Our Holy Father asked for a day not only for Syria, but anywhere in the world,” and invited those present to spend some time in the presence of a statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace, which was thoughtfully placed in the gathering space.
Among them were Priscilla Lagdameo and her friend, Joan Coraggio, both members of St. Veronica Parish, Howell.
“It is so appropriate to pray the Rosary for Peace,” Lagdameo said. “We have known in the past that the Blessed Mother intercedes for us in times of war and great trouble.”
Before the always well attended 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass began, Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, pastor, said in a moving homily, “We know how violent the world is. We have been shocked and overwhelmed … but wars do not change human hearts, prayers do.”
He told the congregation of more than 700, “Our Holy Father challenged us to be people of peace… people of peace in our community and in our lives. He said we need to work to build peace among people. We need to help establish a firm foundation for peace especially in Syria and in Egypt and see that the rights of all, Christians included, are respected.”
To be among the millions of people around the world praying for peace because the pope asked them to, “that was very important,” said parishioner Linda Moldenhouer. “Some days we lose touch with what happens in Rome,” she said, then added that thankfully, this day was not one of them.
People of all faith traditions were welcomed into St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville, for an Interfaith Hour of Prayer and Song for Peace in Syria that the parish co-sponsored with the Princeton-based Coalition of Peace Action. CFPA is a regional organization dedicated to abolition of nuclear weapons, a peace economy and a halt to weapons trafficking at home and abroad.
For the 7 p.m. service an appropriate, prayerful display was created in the sanctuary of a dimly lit church. Before the altar table was a screen holding hundreds of flickering red and white votive candles. Suspended from the ceiling was a display of origami cranes, which has become the international symbol of peace that surrounded a colorful globe. The Paper Cranes for Peace, according to Msgr. Vincent Gartland, pastor, were made in 2001 following the 9-11 terrorist attacks and have since been used for annual parish 9/11 anniversary remembrances and other global solidarity observances.
During the hour, more than 100 attendees participated in the simple service that included a brief introduction and prayer led by Msgr. Gartland, followed by reflections from writings on peace and a special Litany for Peace for Syria. Members of the parish’s Sunday 12:30 p.m. band led the gathering in the singing of peace-themed liturgical hymns, “Prayer of St. Francis,” “Dona Nobis Pacem,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and “We are Called,” along with secular pieces, Blowin’ In the Wind,” “Let It Be” and “Down By the Riverside.” The service concluded with the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.
Parishioner Erica Dekranes, who is an international relations major in the University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland, was excited to hear of the Holy Father’s call for vigils and prayers for peace “all over the globe as well as in my own area.”
“I believe that the nature of a lot of conflicts in the world today are intercommunal and interfaith and it’s extremely imporrtant to include all faiths to create a bond” and work together to establish peace, said Dekranes, who also interned with CFPA.
Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of CFPA and a Protestant minister, was pleased for the opportunity for CFPA and St. Ann Parish to collaborate on the Interfaith Hour of Prayer and Song for Peace in Syria.
“All the great faith traditions affirm peace as a central value,” Rev. Moore said, “so we need to stand together and pray for peace together.”