Interfaith Service for Peace

During his Oct. 18 general audience, Pope Francis declared Friday, Oct. 27, to be a day of fasting, penance and prayer for peace, and encouraged “the various Christian confessions, members of other religious, and all who hold the cause of peace in the world at heart to participate.” In response to that call, on Oct. 27, St. Mary-Stony Hill Parish, Watchung, hosted an Interfaith Service for Peace in their church.  The Service was attended by clergy and faithful from the Latin and Maronite Catholic Churches and from the Jewish, Orthodox, Protestant and Islamic traditions. Pictured from left to right: Rev. Michael Droege, Wilson Memorial Church, Watchung; Rabbi Randi Musnitsky and Student Rabbi Joshua Greenbaum, Temple Har Shalom, Warren; Rev. Barbara Peters, Wilson Memorial Church; Imam Mohammad Charaf, Elizahra Islamic Center, Midland Park; Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, St. Mary-Stony Hill Parish, Watchung; Dr. Mohammad Ali Chaudry, Islamic Society of Basking Ridge; Rev. Simon El Hijj, St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Parish, Somerset; Rev. Nicholas Belcher, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Parish, Little Falls.