TRR photo by Tom Kane Community members gathered at the Narrowsburg bridge on January 29 to pray for peace as part of a nationwide initiative to seek alternative solutions to war. (Click for larger image)

Peace,
not war

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG, NY — The words that John Kennedy was scheduled to deliver before his assassination in Dallas were apropos to the January 29 nationwide call for peace.

Kennedy’s words, which said that the search for peace should be uppermost in our thoughts and actions, were delivered by Father Tom Jones, a Franciscan priest at St. Francis Xavier Church in Narrowsburg.

The group of 15 people, gathered at the interstate bridge last Wednesday, January 29, was part of a national effort to demonstrate in front of federal buildings on the day following President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address.

“The idea of holding this demonstration at this time was suggested by a number of peace organizations over the Internet,” said Beverly Sterner, a Milanville resident who organized the event.

A similar gathering was held in front of the post office in Honesdale, PA. The Honesdale demonstration was part of activities of WaynePeace, a group in Wayne County that promotes peace.

“We had about 20 demonstrators and we walked up and down Main Street for an hour,” said Kathy Dodge, one of the organizers of WaynePeace.

Father Jones also read a prayer for peace to the Narrowsburg group.

“My Franciscan community, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, has always been in the forefront of those seeking peace,” Father Tom said. “I am not making a political statement but I must stress the need for reconciliation and dialogue rather than war.”

The group sang “Study War No More” and prayed as traffic went by on the bridge.

For more information about peace activities, call Sterner at 570/729-7068 or WaynePeace at 570/251-3637 or www.greenwayne.org.