2578 International Peace Day Jerusalem
austraLasia #2578
 

Second International Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land

JERUSALEM: 20th January 2010 --  It is not by accident, we can be sure, that the 31st January has been chosen for this by now annual (since this will be the second such occasion) 'international' Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land. This initiative is strongly backed by a number of young Salesians in the Holy Land and elsewhere, and they are appealing for others to join them. Essentially it means devoting that day, 31st January, to the intention for peace in the Holy Land, in ways which are described further on in this item.
    One hardly needs to cite all kinds of motivating background issues - we are but a year from a disastrous conflict in that part of the world, and unresolved issues of peace abound, but we are also not quite a year from the visit by Pope Benedict last May, and but a few days from his visit to the Rome Synagogue; there are ongoing diplomatic discussions that involve the Holy See and the State of Israel where there is also Salesian participation. So no accident, as we say, that 31st January might have this added intention. His Holiness last year backed the initiative with a message of his own, expressing joy at the adherence to his "invitation to prayer, recognition for this initiative that longs for fraternal peace among peoples of the Holy Land". Last year the initiative was followed by a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There will be another this year.
    Last year, the first such event was truly international and involved 500 cities around the world with 700 events of adoration or Eucharistic celebration officially listed. It had and still has strong support from Italian Catholic Youth Groups (who has not heard of the Papaboys, for instance?) and from other groups not only in Italy but worldwide, which promote Eucharist adoration.
    So what do you do to be part of this event? It means either sending the information that Mass or adoration or both or some celebration of a prayerful nature will take place for this intention on the part of the group you represent, naming, please the city/country as well as the time and nature of your participation, and sending that to ufficiostampa@papboys.it. Alternatively, if you are a FaceBook member you can enter 'We want Peace in the Holy land 2' and attend to matters there. By 25th January (so act promptly please) a list with all celebrations will be online.
    The Salesian coordinator of this event, resident in the Holy land, currently at our Study Centre, Ratisbonne, is Francesco De Ruvo SDB coordinator of the Youth For Life group with its website www.youthfl.org

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