World Day of Prayer Franciscan challenge

Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement sponsor World Day of Peace panel

Father Elias Mallon, SA

It's not enough to talk about peace - each person has a duty to be a peacemaker, say members of the Franciscan Society of the Atonement who marked the World Day of Prayer for Peace at Graymoor in Garrison, New York.

The Franciscan friars and sisters, who moved from the Anglican Church to the Catholic Church as a body a hundred years ago, continue to call for peace between members of different religions as well as different Christian denominations.

"There can be no peace in the world without peace between religions," said Atonement Father Elias Mallon at an interfaith Spirit of Assisi gathering at Graymoor on Oct. 27.

Atonement sisters, brothers and priests have been active for many years in the Vancouver Archdiocese at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Richmond, and at St. Paul's Church  downtown. While the sisters recently relinquished their food and clothing outreach in Vancouver, and the friars no longer pastor St. Paul's, the order continues to serve in Richmond.

The Atonement Society founded the ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, also known as the Unity Octave, which takes place annually just after the beginning of each New Year. http://www.atonementfriars.org/ear.