The Clinton City Council has declared Sept. 21 as “United Nations International Day of Peace in Clinton.” Clinton has been observing the Day of Peace since 1998 when a walk from Clinton Community College to Mount St. Clare College (now Ashford University) was organized by the Sisters of St. Francis and the two colleges.
This year’s Stop the Hate / Show the Love Walk is today, Sept. 16, the Thursday closest to the Day of Peace and now sponsored by the Clinton Peace Coalition. It begins at Clinton Community College at 5 p.m. The walk will conclude at Ashford University.
On Sept. 21, the Sisters of St. Francis will hold their annual observance of the UN Day of Peace with a public vigil in their chapel at The Canticle, 841-13 Ave. N., from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Among the special activities at the vigil will be the Arboretum Drumming Circle at 8 a.m.; a Mass for Peace at 9 a.m. and a prayer at 10:30 a.m., led by senior students from Prince of Peace College Prep. A holy hour of contemplative sitting begins at 3:45 p.m. Evening Praise and Vespers for Peace will be at 6 p.m. and members of the L’Arche community will lead prayer at 7 p.m. First United Methodist Church of Clinton will lead prayer at 9 p.m. That church has been integral to the vigil since its inception.
“Individuals are welcome to come and join the prayer vigil for peace at any time,” said Sister Mary Luke Sondgeroth, OSF, who is coordinating the vigil at The Canticle.
For more information on the Stop the Hate / Show the Love Walk and the Day of Peace Vigil, call (563) 242-7611.
