December 16, 2005

NEW YORK – The International Peace Light was received today at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Skies Catholic Chapel, Terminal 4 of JFK Airport. The Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Diocese of Brooklyn hosts the Arrival of the International Peace Light from Bethlehem in the Holy Land.

The Peace Light, symbolic of the Light of Christ especially evident at Christmas, is meant to promote peace, harmony and unity among the people of the world regardless of race, ethnicity or creed. For several years, the International Scouting movement, Boy and Girl Scouts, have actively promoted global peace and harmony through the distribution of the Peace Light throughout the Holy Land and Europe via the rail system. Pope Benedict XVI will host the Peace Light next week.

For the past three years, the Brooklyn Catholic Committee on Scouting has had the privilege of welcoming the Light to the United States. This year, along with the reception at Our Lady of the Skies chapel we will also make the Peace Light available in each Vicariate of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens in order to promote peace and harmony at the local level. Please note that while Scouts are bringing the Peace Light to the United States, it can benefit people from all walks of life; everyone from youth ministry to senior citizens.

To accomplish this goal the Light, will be available for distribution to your parishioners, parish groups and neighbors at the following locations and times. Welcoming services will be held at each and/or incorporated in a regularly scheduled Mass.

• St. Athanasius Parish, 2154 61st Street, Brooklyn, Dec.16, 7 p.m.

• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, 110-06 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, Dec.16, 7 p.m.

• Our Lady of the Snows, 258-15 80th Ave., Floral Park, Dec.17, 7 p.m. Mass

• Holy Family, 9719 Flatlands Ave., Brooklyn, Dec. 18, 11:15 a.m. Mass

To learn more about how you can participate, please contact Brian Long, Chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting at 917-882-8383; Paul Stanton, International Representative of the Greater New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America at 347-245-0131 or Michael Guglielmo, Catholic Charities liaison to the Brooklyn Diocesan Scouting Committee at 718-722-6109.

Catholic Committee on Scouting, Diocese of Brooklyn