World Day of Peace 2018

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World Day of Peace

January 1st is annually designed by the Vatican as World Day of Peace. A message is released in November for that day.  Message_for_2018_world_day_of_peace_is_released Nothing much appears to be done on this day. My mass aide says that a bishop may authorize a Mass for Peace on this day or some other day in January. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati does have a Mass for Peace at the cathedral.  Otherwise very little is done.

I think we ought to replace the Marian Proper for this day (which replaced the Circumcision Proper) with the Mass for Peace and turn New Year's in a World Day of Peace celebration. I was very impressed when we welcomed in the year 2000 beginning with its occurrence out in the Pacific at Christmas Island. That gave me the idea of uniting the world in prayer for peace as the new year sweeps across the world.

This has some particular advantages for the East Coast, since the New Year starts early in the morning of December 31st and reaches Jerusalem at 5;00 pm and Rome at 6:00 pm. If one had a Mass at 5:00 pm one could ring in the New Year at Jerusalem at the beginning of Mass, and ring in Rome at the end of Mass.

Thinking really big we could transfer the entire January 1st celebration to December 31st. Have a Mass at 4;00pm which ends with ringing in Jerusalem at 5:00pm.  Have a Mass at 6:00pm beginning with ringing in Rome, and also a Midnight Mass preceded by readings and songs for peace. This is essentially what is already happening to Christmas in most of the parishes around here.

The Midwest time zone starts Masses at 3pm and 5pm; the Western time zone at 1pm and 3pm. Not the usual times for Mass but not inconvenient times. Many people take New Year's Eve off from work. And of course everyone gets to party at Midnight if they want and to watch the parades and games on TV the next day.


Observing the World Day of Peace by Praying
for Each Time Zone as it Enters the New Year

New York
London
Rome
Jerusalem
UT
Sample places
31st 5:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00m
14
Christmas Island
31s  6:00am
11:00am
12:00m
1:00pm
13
Wellington, New Zealand, 
31st 7 00am
12:00m
1:00pm
2:00pm
12
Eastern Siberia, Marshall Island
31st 8:00am
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:00pm
11
Sydney, Australia
31st 9:00am
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm
10
Russia Vladivostok
31st10:00am
3:00pm
4:00pm
5:00pm
9
Tokyo, Japan , Indonesia; EastTimor
31st 11:00am
4:00pm
5:00pm
6:00pm
8
Beijing, China  Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia
31st 12:00m
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
7
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, 
31st 1:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
8:00pm
6
Bangladesh; New Delhi,  Sri Lanka
31st 2:00pm
7:00pm
8:00pm
9:00pm
5
Pakistan
31st 2:30pm
7:30pm
8:30pm
9:30pm
4:30
Afghanistan
31st 3:00pm
8:00pm
9:00pm
10:00pm
4
Armenia; Iran- Tehran
31st 4:00pm
9:00pm
10:00pm
11:00pm
3
Moscow, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen,  Kenya,  Somalia, Sudan,  Uganda, ...
31st 5:00pm
10:00pm
11:00pm
12:00pm
2
Jerusalem ; Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Libya, South Africa, Zimbabwe
31st 6:00pm
11:00pm
12:00pm
1:00am
1
Rome;  France-, Germany,  Spain, Netherlands,  Sweden, Switzerland
31st 7:00pm
12:00pm
1:00am
2:00am
0
London, Ghana  Portugal, Iceland, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia
31st 8:00pm
1:00am
2:00am
3:00am
1
Cape Verde
31st 9:00pm
2:00am
3:00am
4:00am
2
Brazil,
31st 10:00pm
3:00am
4:00am
5:00am
3
Chile; Argentina- Paraguay, Uruguay
31st 11:00pm
4:00am
5:00am
6:00am
4
Nova Scotia, Bermuda, Puerto Rico
31st 12:00pm
5:00am
6:00am
7:00am
5
New York, Toronto, Cuba-Havana, Peru; Colombia, Ecuador, Panama,
1st 1:00am
6:00am
7:00am
8:00am
6
Chicago, Mexico City, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua,
1st 2:00am
7:00am
8:00am
9:00am
7
Denver
1st 3:00am
8:00am
9:00am
10:00am
8
Los Angeles
1st 4:00am
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
9
Anchorage
1st 5:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00m
10
Hawaii
1st 6:00am
11:00am
12:00m
1:00pm
11
American Samoa  Midway Islands


A Blessing Prayer for Peace
(the following are designed for use as antiphons for each psalm)
They may also be said as a concluding blessing for a service for peace.

All too long have we been living with those who promote injustice, conflict and war. 
Help us speak and work for peace.  R. Shalom Psalm 120(119)

Let us lift our eyes to God who made heaven and earth.
Be our Light, our Guide and our Guard on the path to peace.  R. Shalom Psalm 121(120)

For the well-being of global society, for our planet’s safety,
for love of our families and friends let us pray: shalom R. Shalom!  Psalm 122(121)

From the attitudes of the rich and powerful deliver us.
Let us humbly lift up our eyes to the Giver of mercy and peace! R. Shalom Psalm 123(122)

Blessed by the God who overcomes the torrents and chaos of life.
From anger and imprisonment let us escape to peace. R. Shalom Psalm 124(123)

The Holy City! God surrounds his people, driving away evil.   On all just and good people everywhere, shalom!  R. Shalom! Psalm 125(124)

What marvels God has done for us! We rejoice in freedom!
Let us enter God’s city full of song, singing  shalom R. Shalom. Psalm 126(125)

God build our families and communities! Keep watch over the global human endeavor!
Give future generations peace! R. Shalom Psalm 127(126)

May God bless us all the days of our life! May we see our children’s children living in a world of peace.  Upon our families and the human family, shalom! R. Shalom Psalm 128(127)

May those who oppose justice be like grass that withers. Upon all who are oppressed and broken, the blessing of God’s peace! R. Shalom  Psalm 129(128)

In the depths of our hearts we cry for God’s coming, watching and waiting, eagerly we expect the dawning of full and lasting peace. R. Shalom! Psalm 130(129)

Like children in the arms of a mother, may we be free from ambition, restlessness and concern. Let us savor peace. R. Shalom! Psalm 131(130)

O God, dwell among us forever! Light the lamps of your faithful! Fill the poor with bread. Let us sing joyously, and greet each other with shalom. R. Shalom!  Psalm 132(131)

How good when we live together as a family. Anointed with divine grace, may we delight in God’s peace. R. Shalom! Psalm 133(132)

Bless God all your servants! Stand as living temples! Lift up your hands! Bless the Holy Name day and night. May God who made heaven and earth bless us! Shalom, Shalom, Shalom!
R. Shalom Shalom Shalom Psalm 134(133)

These are the gradual psalms which were sung on the way to Jerusalem, the City of Peace.

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