BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH COMMUNITY 3109 Swede Ave     Midland MI 48642-3842 989-835-6777 How to find us..

Early in 1999, the Social Awareness Committee brought a proposal to the Parish Staff and Parish Council that we plant a Peace Pole here at Blessed Sacrament Parish. The Committee saw the violence of our society and of our world and wanted to encourage the people of the parish to re-commit their lives to being people of peace. The Staff and Council approved the proposal and the Peace Pole was planted on June 25, 2000, the Feast of Corpus Christi, our parish feast day. It stands just outside the west entrance of the Parish Center.

What is a Peace Pole? A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer "May Peace Prevail on Earth" on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages. There are more than 100,000 Peace Poles in 160 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace. They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace. Whatever the location, the presence of a Peace Pole announces that this is a special place, dedicated to peace on earth. A Peace Pole acts as a silent prayer and message for peace on earth.

The World Peace Prayer Society is a nonprofit, member-supported, non-sectarian organization dedicated to spreading the message and prayer: May Peace Prevail on Earth. Through the Peace Pole Project, World Peace Prayer Ceremonies, the Peace Pals program for young people, and other initiatives, members and supporters around the world are working together to carry the universal message of peace to their communities on every continent.

Our Peace Pole is 6 feet tall, made out of cedar. The Social Awareness Committee chose four languages for the Pole that honor our heritage as a parish: Chippewa, the language of the native people of this area; Hebrew, the language of our ancestors in faith; English, the predominant language of this community; and Laotian, in honor of the families that our parish sponsored in the 1970's to come from Laos and make their homes here.

We live in an increasingly violent world. We see on the news and read in the newspapers about road rage, spouses and children being abused, and the anger that leads to shootings. We ourselves experience daily the impatience and rudeness of others - and perhaps we are guilty of this ourselves. Before we can be global peace-makers, we need to be at peace with those we see each day: our families, our neighbors, co-workers, classmates and friends. Being at peace with one another is a command of Christ's: "love one another as I have loved you."

Are you estranged from anyone? Can you find it in yourself to forgive? Reconciliation between people is the first step in peace-making. Can you call or send a note to the person from whom you are estranged? You may want to pray about it and ask God for the wisdom and mercy needed to forgive and forget. One of the saddest things in the world to see is a family, neighborhood or community divided against itself. Sometimes, it's not safe to reconcile, but can you find it in your heart to forgive? Forgiveness brings a freedom to move on that cannot be attained otherwise.

And if you find yourself still angry, do as Jesus did on the cross. He too could not forgive his enemies himself, so he asked God to forgive them: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." You too can pray this prayer when forgiveness seems impossible.

When we make a commitment to being people of peace, we make a commitment to being non-violent. As we know, this does not mean that we "wimp out" when we experience conflict, but that we react without resorting to violence, trying to maintain a relationship with the person or persons with whom we are in conflict. There are some specific steps that can be taken by us to resolve conflicts:

• Treat all people with respect. That means living the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Treat others as you would want them to treat you.
• LISTEN to the other person's position or concerns. Really listen, then re-state their position as you heard it so that they may correct any misperceptions.
• Focus on the issues when you are talking with one another. Don't focus on the person's character. In other words, don't say "you are SO stupid!", but focus on the words they are saying. One way of doing this could be: "I have a problem with your statement that...".
• Speak the truth, be honest. If you have a concern, if you are frustrated, say so. Don't stew over issues, discuss them.
• In your discussion, note the points on which the two of you agree as well as those on which you disagree.
• astly, even though you may have to agree to disagree, don't let that divide the two of you. Be at peace with one another.

People of peace are willing to take that extra step to be activists for peace, to call on lawmakers and world leaders to build a world that is peaceful. This is one of the biggest challenges - to be willing to speak out publicly for peace, and yet, our Church leaders have called us to do just that when we are confronted with issues of injustice and oppression. This requires both courage and taking the time to learn about issues that need to be addressed.

People of peace live non-violently; compassionately, simply, faithful to the law of love. This is our call, this is our challenge, this is our privilege as Catholic Christians!

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