In response to the recent attacks in France, Lebanon, Egypt, Nigeria, and other countries, nearly 800 people attended an interfaith Prayer for Peace service at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis Nov. 15.
The Basilica hosted the opportunity to pray for peace especially to hold in prayer those lost and impacted by the recent attacks in Paris.
Johan Van Parys, Basilica director of liturgy, explained, “Our world is in such pain. We have seen so many terrorist attacks in recent years, months and weeks throughout the world. There is so much anger and fear.
“We felt it very necessary to pray for peace in our world, in our cities, in our homes and in our heart. And of course we do that every time we gather for Mass. But this special service allowed us to bring together Jews, Christians and Muslims to stand together against violence and to pray together for peace,” Van Parys noted.
The service was held in conjunction with the Memorial March for Paris, which began at the Alliance Française building in downtown Minneapolis, and included Vespers for Peace and Justice led by U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, a reflection by Christina Selander Bouzouina, Honorary Consul of France, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayers for peace.