From June to September URI’s IDEA of the MONTH will provide ideas to participate in the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2006.

The International Day of Peace was established by the UN in 1981 to be a day of strengthening the ideals of peace and alleviating tensions and causes of conflict. For more information go to www.uri.org front page – see banner headline “International Day of Peace, September 21, 2006.”

The idea below was provided by The Spiritual Forum of Santiago for Peace URI Cooperation Circle in Santiago, Chile. Idea submitted by Gerardo Gonzalez, coordinator.

Our celebration was spread over three days and organized around three different kinds of events. The three programs offered unique ways for people from different faith traditions to feel comfortable joining together in prayers for peace. 

People who preferred to pray in their own faith home were welcome to do so; people in schools had the opportunity to offer prayers for peace appropriate for multi-cultural and multi-religious school settings; people who wanted to participate in a city-wide interfaith prayer service had this opportunity. 

This format gave respect to people’s preferences while  honoring the act of praying together for peace.

Three Events: 

1. Day One:  Prayers for Peace by Faith Communities: 

Faith communities were invited to gather in their own places of worship (churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, etc.) to pray using prayers and practices from their own traditions. Each faith community was aware that other faith groups were doing the same throughout the city of Santiago on the same day. (September 20) 

2. Day Two:  Prayers for Peace at the Schools: 

Private and public schools were invited to celebrate the International Day of Peace by offering prayers which were of an ecumenical or interfaith character. (September 21) 

3. Day Three: Prayers for Peace at a Central Location

A central ceremony of Interfaith Prayers for Peace in the World, carried out the evening of September 22nd at a huge hall of Catholic University, closed the celebration. Forty flags of countries from different continents brought together all the peoples of the world. Representatives from thirteen religions and spiritual traditions (including Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sufis, Bahá'ís and Mapuches) were seated in a circle at the center of the hall, surrounded by a multi-religious audience.

The leaders prayed one by one, using their own sacred languages, songs and rituals.  At the end of each prayer, a flower was deposited in a flower vase at the very center of the circle. Thus, at the end of the round of prayers, a beautiful bouquet of flowers emerged, representing "our unity in diversity". 

A minute in silence after each prayer allowed all the people attending the ceremony to pray simultaneously for peace. The event ended with all the participants reading in loud voice a “Declaration for Peace in the World” and singing for peace.