World Peace Day in Marian Academy

03/10/2022

Marian Academy Celebrates World Peace Day.
Caribbean Province – Guyana

By Sister Shelly Jhetoo, O.S.U.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace was “End Racism: Build Peace.” Marian Academy joined the efforts of the United Nations through our annual Peace Day ceremony and social teachings as we work towards a world free of racism and racial discrimination. In the opening prayer Sr Marie Harper O.S.U., prayed that God will enable us to reverence each person, to reach out to anyone in need, to value and appreciate those who are different from us, to share the resources of our nation and to receive the gifts offered to us by people from other cultures.   In Renika Anand’s (a member of the ‘environmental’ Club) introductory speech, she encouraged us to reflect on the importance of embracing our differences everyday and in joining the global community around the world to pray for peace. She invited all of us to hope and work towards a peaceful and united future that is free of racism.  She urged us to listen to the call to be the channel of God’s peace wherever we are by working for peace, and becoming makers of peace, as sons and daughters of God. 

The United Nation’s resident Coordinator, Ms Yesim Oruc, delivered a peace message stressing the importance for each one of us to think and reflect on the dignity of each person and to promote random acts of kindness to those we know and also to strangers.   Ms Oruc was very impressed and commended the administration, teachers, students and parents for our efforts in promoting understanding and mutual respect especially to those who are different from us.  She was pleased to know that at Marian Academy we have incorporated the United Nations ideals of peace keeping at our school.  It has become a tradition to have a one minute silence in observance of world peace followed by the ringing of the peace bell during the ceremony.  The ringing of the “Peace Bell” is to send a clear message to all of us that peace is precious. It is not enough to yearn for peace, peace requires work... long, hard and difficult work.  Liam Wong, a past student of Marian Academy, and a member of the Rotaract Club in Georgetown implemented the peace path initiative at Marian Academy in commemoration of the International Day of Peace.  He was assured that the peace path project will encourage us to seek creative ways to resolve conflict in our daily life.

The Peace message was illustrated in art by our Nursery 1 and 2 and Grades 1 and 2 students and teachers. Peace messages were also brought to us through musical presentations by the school choir conducted by our Music Teachers and Mrs. Alphonso, a member of staff who did a musical rendition” Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”.  In the closing prayer Sr. Shelly Jhetoo O.S.U, prayed for blessings upon our actions, that they may be the cause of peace and not injustice and for blessings upon our lips, that they may speak God’s loving words in conversation with all people and be an avenue for change through prayer.