7th Annual Interreligious Prayer Service for Peace and Justice Celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week

MEDIA ALERT

CONTACT: John Karle, St. Francis Xavier Peace & Justice Committee

WHAT: The 7th Annual Interreligious Prayer Service for Peace and Justice Celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week

WHEN: Saturday, February 5th, 2011, 7:30 PM

WHERE: Church of St. Francis Xavier, 46 W. 16th St., New York, NY

WHO: Representatives of world religions and faith traditions will come together to recite universal prayers for peace and justice.

WHY: In recognition and celebration of the resolution adopted by UN General Assembly proclaiming the first week of February World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs.

Organized by Charles S. Chesnavage and the Interfaith Committee and Peace & Justice Committee of the Church of St. Francis Xavier, The 7th Annual Interreligious Prayer Service for Peace and Justice seeks to promote understanding and tolerance among all faith traditions and beliefs.

The service will open with remarks on interreligious dialogue by Rev. Roger Haight, S.J., Scholar in Residence at Union Theological Seminary, and Ralph Singh, Founding President, advisor and spokesperson for Gobind Sadan, USA (an interfaith retreat and meditation center).

Universal Prayers for Peace and Justice will be recited, including prayers from the following faiths and traditions:

Hindu

Buddhist

Jain

Muslim

Jewish

Sikh

Bahai

Christian

Native American

Sr. Kathleen Deignan, CND an Irish-American theologian, author and sacred song writer and founder/director of Iona Spirituality Institute will share remarks on the interfaith challenge to foster a culture of peace.

The service will close with Dr. Ilchi Lees Prayer of Peace, which was originally said at the Millennium World Peace Summit in August 2000.

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