By David Kilby | Correspondent

News of violence in the Middle East and other parts of the world led several religious communities in the Hightstown area to promote peace together in a unique way.

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Responding to Pope Francis’ continuous call to pray for peace and that of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown was the site of a peace vigil Sept. 23 where some 120 Christians, Muslims and others came together to sing, pray and learn about each other’s faith traditions.

“Peace is at the heart of every religion,” said Lenore Isleib, who coordinated the event with her husband Leigh. “Peace begins with us getting to know our neighbors, loving one another and building bridges among different peoples and cultures.”

The event was sponsored by St. Anthony of Padua’s Social Justice Committee, the Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Community Unity of Hightstown-East Windsor-Roosevelt.

Father Patrick McDonnell, pastor, said he hopes the evening creates a deeper sense of unity among the communities of different faiths in the area.

Reading a quote from Pope Francis, Father McDonnell stated, “Each of us has a vision of good and evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is good. That would be enough to make the world a better place.”

A reading from the Qur’an, “Rome in the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful” was shared in Arabic by Manzoor Hussain, and then in English by Jana Hussain.

 Psalm 23 was proclaimed in Hebrew by Gail Zelenak and then in English by Mary Ford. Rev. Calvin Powell of the First Baptist Church of Trenton read Matthew 5:38-45, and then sang “Amazing Grace.”

Many forms of prayer were embraced, such as a quiet reflection with Quentin Marty, St. Anthony of Padua music director, as he played “Prayer of St. Francis” on the piano, and a lyrical dance by Gretchen Bryant who danced in front of the sanctuary to the playing of a Native American flute and guitar by Patrick Liquori and Rich Turin.

Katie Clark from the Peddie Christian Fellowship read “Call and Response,” a litany of promises that called  the congregation to live for greater peace and unity, and the poem “Happiness” or “Felicidad” by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta was read in Spanish by Iride Lamartina-Lens and then in English by Alejandra Cabria. After each observance, as a new person approached the altar, they bowed to the person who was heading back to their seat. 

At the close of the vigil, children from the community – Deziree Bryant, Kate and Spencer Taussig, Danay Moody and Joyce Vennie – sang and signed “Let there be Peace on Earth.”

“I thank the people who organized this,” said Rob Schmelz of East Windsor. “The only way that we’re all going to come together is if we all (literally) come together. Love is all we need and that was definitely here tonight.”

“As a Muslim I like to have peace in the world,” said Anjum Nisar of Hightstown, “no killing, no wars. The world is beautiful. Our father is Adam and Eve is our mother. We all come from that lineage.”

“This was a very touching event,” said Salim Manzar. “There are many troubled hearts that gathered here to try to find some meaning through prayer and through each other. It is only through knowing each other that we recognize each other’s humanity.”

Tahir Zafar, chairman of the Institute of Islamic Studies in West Windsor, said he tries to have the institute host as many interfaith events as it can to increase dialogue between religious groups. The institute broke ground for a new mosque on Old Trenton Road in West Windsor in July.

Zafar said events like the peace vigil have “such a positive impact.”

“It was peaceful, and maybe that would bring peace, with us gathering and praying for it,” said Dee Garvey, parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua.

“I love the idea of coming together,” her husband, Deacon Tom Garvey added. “It warmed my heart, the whole experience, the peacefulness and the sharing of languages.”