Every week St. Matthew’s lights a candle and prays for peace. It is our ongoing vigil for not only an end to conflict, but also for true peace to be known in our hearts, our community, and our world. These peace poles represent our continued dedication to these prayers and a desire for the world to know justice, equity, and welcome for all.
Our peace poles are two of more than 200,000 in 180 countries. This idea began with Mr. Masahisa Goi after World War II. Mr. Goi came to understand that words, thoughts, and intentions carry energy strong enough to influence the destiny of all living beings and by speaking, acting, and living in the spirit of the prayer, May Peace Prevail on Earth, the energy field of love and harmony would radiate forth to all of creation.
We gather around languages of the world and languages of our community:
Canada’s official languages: English and French
One of the languages of our Indigenous siblings: Mohawk
The first languages of many who reside here: German, Chinese, Arabic and Spanish
A language representing our Scriptures: Hebrew
Our witness for peace stands firm in this place, the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe, and the Neutral peoples.
This witness as a prayer for peace speaks into Conestogo, the Waterloo Region, and beyond, with love and harmony.
