WACC commemorates International Day of Prayer

Toronto, Canada - WACC marked the annual International Day of Prayer for Peace in solidarity with other peace advocates around the world. The WACC staff meditated and reflected on the peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi which calls upon all people to be channels of peace.Prayers were offered in English, French and Spanish languages.

The International Day of Prayer for Peace, observed each year on 21 September, offers an opportunity for church communities in all places to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies. The Day of Prayer is one of the initiatives of the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (visit:http://www.overcomingviolence.org) and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace.

In 1981 the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution 55/282 declaring 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace. The intention of the resolution is to have the entire world observe a day of peace and nonviolence.

Next year, October 2008, WACC will hold an international congress on peace in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the Congress 2008 is ‘Communication is Peace: Building viable communities’. Communicators and peace advocates committed to promoting a culture of peace are invited to participate in Congress.

(By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager)