Peace walk in Warwick, RI

People of Faith United for Justice and Peace consists of St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal, Pilgrim Lutheran and West Bay Community Jewish Center. Over the past few weeks, invitations were placed in parish bulletins inviting all to join in a peace walk on Sunday, May 29.

Sisters Vivian Patenaude, RJM, and Doris Bissonnette, RJM, along with other St. Timothy parishioners joined the group for the one o’clock start time. Flags were distributed along with song sheets and instructions at St. Timothy’s steps. We were encouraged to walk with someone from another parish whom we did not know, which created interesting conversation. Our first stop was at St. Mark’s where Mother Susan led us in prayer. At Pilgrim Lutheran (above) we wrote petitions and placed them on easels after praying them out loud for the group. Rabbi Perlman taught us an easy Hebrew peace chant and led us in singing “Blowing In The Wind” – which the youth among us did not know.

Here, Sr. Vivian and Sr. Doris are standing with “Ronnie” and another lady, both from West Bay Jewish Center. Ronnie had chosen to participate in this walk as a birthday gift to herself. It was encouraging to hear several cars tooting their occupants’ agreement with us as they passed by. It’s a beginning for a new group. Hopefully the Spirit will bring about further growth.

Doris Bissonnette, RJM