BISHOP PERSICO PARTICIPATES IN SILENT PEACE WALK

11/09/2018

Bishop Lawrence Persico was among the participants in the Silent Peace Walk organized by Benedictines for Peace in downtown Erie, Thursday, Nov. 8. The intention this month was for victims of sexual abuse.

“We hold the suffering of everyone affected by sexual abuse,” Sister Anne McCarthy, OSB, said. “We walk with all victims, knowing we are all victims. We walk with all responsible for abuse and its cover-up, knowing we are all responsible.”

Several dozen people gathered in front of St. Peter Cathedral at 7 p.m. They first recited a short prayer together, then fell into a line, single file, behind a sign announcing the silent walk. They took about 20 minutes to walk mindfully, slowly and intentionally around the block.

Benedictines for Peace say the walk promotes inner peace, the foundation for constructive action for justice and peace. The groups traces the genesis of the effort to Piero Falci, who introduced Silent Peace Walks in Coral Springs, Fla., in 2006. Since then, the walks have spread across the world.

The Benedictines for Peace will host their next Silent Walk for Peace on Dec. 10 from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in Perry Square. They tout that gathering as particularly inspiring as the location will be lit up for the Christmas holiday.

Upon completion of the walk, Bishop Persico borrowed from the event’s prayer to reflect on the experience, tweeting: “We need to pray for peace in our hearts, our families, our communities, our nations and our world.”

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