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People of different faiths will be standing in solidarity tomorrow evening at St Christopher’s Cathedral compound in Manama to shine a bright light on the plight of children around the world and to pray for peace.
The event entitled ‘A Multi-faith Prayer for Peace’, held at 7pm, has been organised by non-governmental organisation, This is Bahrain, in conjunction with St Christopher’s Anglican Cathedral, to call for peace as well as to mark Universal Children’s Day, which falls on November 20.
“The event will take place outside the St Christopher’s Anglican Cathedral, which is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the church’s consecration,” said dean of St Christopher’s Cathedral, the Very Rev’d Dr Richard Fermer.”
Some may see ‘prayers for peace’ as ‘more words without action’ but this event brings together people of different faiths in a commitment to peace, which is a powerful witness in itself.
“Prayer is no mere words either. Prayer is a way of being close and present to others in a time of great suffering, an act of solidarity that enlarges the heart until it connects more fully to God, whose love embraces all.
“It is a way of communicating the energy of love and light that will not be overcome by darkness. There is always conflict in our world, but the current violence in Palestine-Israel is particularly heart-wrenching for two reasons – first, because so many innocent civilians have died and continue to die; and secondly, this is a conflict that has been going on for 75 years, with repetition and no resolution.”
According to Father Richard, they chose to stage the prayer on Universal Children’s Day, which is themed this year as ‘for every child, every right’, because ‘innocent children on both sides of this conflict have been killed, taken as hostages and deeply traumatised’.
“On Children’s Day, we pray that children who make none of the decisions to go to war, who have no voice, should be protected,” added Father Richard, who shared that the night will be attended by several leaders of faith including Roman Catholic Bishop and Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, Aldo Berardi, members of their congregations, as well as ambassadors.
“Last week, we saw the shocking images of babies taken out of incubators at Al Shifa Hospital because the hospital had been denied fuel.”
Global calls for a humanitarian ceasefire have mounted in recent days as Al Shifa became the focus of Israel’s war on Hamas.
The world has been stunned by images of babies cuddled together after fuel for generators to power incubators ran out.
“From my own religious tradition, I know the affection which Jesus has for children, ‘let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is too such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’,” said Father Richard.
The evening will feature a mixed programme of music, prayers, poems, testimony, reflection and an act of commitment to peace by all present.
“We will be using the various symbols of peace from the different religions present,” he added. “I do not want to reveal too much, because I do not want to spoil it for those who are coming.”
However, Father Richard did share that attendees will also have the opportunity to watch a video message from Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a British-Palestinian award-winning plastic surgeon who was working in Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza which is run by the Anglican Province of the Middle East.
“It was one of the last hospitals that was still in operation and he will tell us about the urgency of the situation there,” explained Father Richard, who also shared that the Al Ahli Hospital had been besieged on November 16 by Israeli forces.
Father Richard received a message from Dr Abu-Sittah’s friend stating that the hospital had run out of anaesthetics, as well as other vital supplies. The message also said that ‘they were no longer able to do surgeries and were reduced to being a first-aid post’.
“Coming together to pray for peace is an act of peace,” said Father Richard. “Children are a symbol of hope in our world, which is why they should be protected at all costs.
“Ultimately, violence cannot lead to a lasting peace. By people of all faiths coming together from different countries and backgrounds, we are saying that peace is possible, peaceful co-existence exists and more than that, it can be a source of joy, as it comes from God.”
A collection in aid of Al Ahli Hospital will take place during the event.
mai@gdnmedia.bh
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