Witness for peace in London

Peace walkers outside Westminster Cathedral

A week of peace events and services in London concluded last night with an ecumenical service organised by Pax Christi, in Westminster Cathedral crypt and a procession to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park and a Buddhist floating lantern ceremony.

Led by Pat Gaffney, general secretary of Pax Christi, the Cathedral service commemorated the life and witness of Blessed Franz Jagestatter, an Austrian farmer who was executed on 9 August 1943, for refusing to join Hitler's army. He was beatified in October 2007.

Extracts from Franz Jagestatter’s writing were read and veteran American peace campaigner Bede Smith gave a reflection on Jagerstatter’s life.

On the day of the beatification, Bishop Dr Ludwig Schwarz said: "Franz Jagerstatter is a prophet with a global view and a penetrating insight which very few of his contemporaries had at that time; he is a shining example in his fidelity to the claims of his conscience, an advocate of nonviolence and peace, a voice of warning against ideologies, a deep-believing person for whom God really was the core and centre of life.

"His prophetic witness to Christian truth is based on a clear, radical and far-sighted analysis of the barbarism of the inhuman and godless system of Nazism, its racial delusions, its ideology of war and deification of the state, as well as its declared programme of annihilating Christianity and the Church."

Prayers of remembrance were said for those who have given their lives in the cause of peace. Pat read a litany of names of conscientious objectors and mentioned those from the Mennonites and Anabaptists, Society of Friends and all those who have campaigned against the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine. She then invited the congregation to add their names of others who work for peace. People prayed for the police and community workers in areas hit by the riots.

Pat said: Let us pray that we may all become more aware of our responsibilities for what happens in the world around us and be prepared to take what action we can to promote good and prevent evil, at whatever cost to ourselves.”

Ellen Teague, from Columban Justice and Peace, who attended the service commented: "Faith gives hope that current fears and insecurities will pass and we will feel safe on the streets again and trust our young people. Awareness of Catholic Social Teaching also makes me ask ‘why?’.

“In the UK we have seen recent cuts to services which assist marginalised youth, such as youth clubs and employment schemes. We have also seen huge rises in student fees which has put a university education out of the reach of low income families. When interviewed, young people causing trouble in our cities have consistently spoken of anxiety for their futures and alienation from political and legal processes. I hope we in the church will address these reasons and resist seeing young people in hoodies as enemies."

After the service, a gentle drumbeat began as the Peace Walk, led by Buddhist monks in saffron robes and Christians of many denominations carrying banners, made its way through crowded streets to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea, for a Buddhist prayer ceremony. As the sun set, dozens of colourful lanterns were floated on the River Thames to commemorate those who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and pray for peace in the world.

Reverend Gyoro Nagase led the chanting and offered prayers for peace. Reverend Nagase is a Buddhist monk from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order who have built Peace Pagodas in many cities around the world.