Triangle Parish Hosts Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Peace

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/31/02)

Bounkhong Phonthachack, a Buddhist monk (right) from Laos, sat among children’s desks at St. Francis of Assisi School in Triangle one recent evening gently explaining the Pancha Shila — five Buddhist moral precepts for good living — to eager adults.

Phonthachack, and two other monks from the Wat Lao Buddhavong, a monastery in Catlett, were among representatives of various religions participating in "dialogue rooms" preceding an inter-faith prayer vigil for world peace at St. Francis Church on Jan. 23.

Vigil participants moved from classroom to classroom and into the St. Francis library to hear presentations from and pose questions about faith traditions to Rabbi Lawrence Forman of Congregation NerShalom in Dale City, Abu Nahidian of the Manassas Mosque, Rev. Jeff Carter of the Church of the Brethren in Manassas or Gyani Kuldeep Singh, head priest of the Sikh Foundation of Virginia. Discussion touched on reactions to Sept. 11, the relationship between peace and justice, the death penalty and why there is so much hatred in the world. But, it was very evident the desire for peace is common to all faiths.

"We have a lot of work to do toward peace," Rabbi Formam said. "Only when we touch each other will we understand each other."

When asked to explain a "jihad or holy war," Nahidian said, "No war is holy. A jihad is the motivation to achieve your goals. The Koran never says not to love Jews and Christians."

The vigil used the same prayer format planned for Pope John Paul II’s daylong meeting with 100 representatives of various faiths in Assisi, Italy, Jan. 24. The pope planned to travel by train from Rome to Assisi with the invited religious leaders. In announcing the meeting, Pope John Paul expressed the hope that bringing together various faith leaders would allow them to "proclaim before the whole world that religion should never become a reason for conflict, hatred and violence."

A call to prayer by a Buddhist musician opened the local prayer vigil, followed by a Navaho prayer for peace.

Franciscan Father Robert Menard, parochial vicar at St. Francis, pulled his brown hood up and enacted "A Franciscan Story" about the trust between a wolf and St. Francis.

The religious leaders stood before the altar and, in turn, shared prayers for peace with the congregation. Father Menard presented them with a candle before they stepped back into place in front of the altar.

The three Buddhist monks chanted for peace. "Buddha bless America," Phonthachack concluded.

"You came, but really He brought you here," Nahidian told the assembly. Singh removed his shoes before chanting for peace. "Life is a gift to all. We come for the courage to be changed into a peace-loving people," prayed Rev. Kathleen Allen of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church.

The assembly wrote their own prayers for peace on note cards that were collected in offertory baskets, accompanied by a Taize chant.

Franciscan Father John F. O’Connor, pastor of St. Francis, led the congregation in a concluding prayer and invited them to a reception in the parish hall.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Pax Christi Groups of Northern Virginia sponsored the prayer vigil for peace. 

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