Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s call to Unity and Mission, and his ongoing appeal to pray for peace in a world marked by war, several Lay Associations, Ecclesial Movements, and New Communities in Ireland came together to organise a Prayer for Peace event.
Following a series of online meetings, representatives from a wide range of movements collaborated to prepare the event, which took place in St Bernadette’s – a beautifully refurbished parish church in Crumlin, Dublin. Around 300 people attended, drawn both from the movements involved and from the wider community.
The service was led by Bishop Donal Roche, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, with the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, also in attendance.
In his homily, Bishop Roche urged those present not just to pray for peace, but to be builders of peace in their own lives. “To be a peacemaker we have to get into the mind of the other, to understand their situations and to compromise, and to maybe step back a little bit and sacrifice the high moral ground. Maybe there are situations where I refuse to let go of a grudge or forgive somebody who has wronged me and yet I come and pray for peace.”
The coming together of so many movements and communities was a “great display of faith,” he said. “We should not underestimate the power of that prayer.”
“Our prayer can be powerful and can be effective by bringing acts of peace and forgiveness and justice about in our own lives. Who knows the effect of our actions on those who observe us.”
The Nuncio expressed his joy at seeing the movements working together and his hope that this initiative would be the first of many “because it really makes a difference, it marks a presence”. He added: “Also it makes real what the pope says to us: we have to walk together, we have to get used to know each other, accompany each other, support each other, to do things together.”
The twelve groups represented at the Prayer for Peace were: Catholic Mothers Ireland, Communion and Liberation Ireland, Crusaders of Mary, Family Solidarity Ireland, Focolare Movement Ireland, Light – Life Movement, Jesus Youth Movement, Marriage Encounter Ireland, Mothers Prayers, Neocatechumenal Way Ireland, Shalom Community and Teams of Our Lady Ireland.
The event was warmly received, and participants greatly valued the experience of praying and preparing together. It is hoped that this collaboration will lead to closer cooperation among the different organisations in the future.