The call for peace, unity remains

A few short years after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and in the midst of a “War on Terror,” community and faith leaders assembled at a Naperville church to appeal for unity, oppose intolerance and celebrate diversity.

After nearly two decades this appeal remains critical.

The Naperville Interfaith Leaders Association’s 19th World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wentz Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College. This year’s theme is “Loving Courageously to Repair a Fractured World.”

A 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy fatally stabbed 26 times in October in Plainfield Township in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and a rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism highlight the continued need for such an event, organizers say.

“It was born in that desire to offer a countersign to what was happening around then (9/11),” said Tom Cordaro, a retired justice and outreach minister at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Parish in Naperville.

Now, with the Catholic peace and justice organization Pax Christi Illinois, he’s a lead coordinator for World Peace Day, and been part of the annual event all 19 years.

“Now, here we find ourselves 19 years later facing many of the same challenges as when we first started, with different kinds of religious extremism that we see both in our own country again and around the world. The need has not changed,” Cordaro said.

With an emphasis on drawing young people to participate, the event will offer speakers’ reflections and presentations featuring music and dance performances from a variety of faith organizations.

It will begin with opening statements by the Rev. Eric Doolittle, chaplain of North Central College, followed by a reflection from Cordaro and presentations representing a variety of faith traditions — Hindu, Jewish, Islamic, Catholic, Unitarian, Buddhist, Baha’i.

“We talk about peace, we talk about unity, bringing everybody together and learning and understanding each other’s faith and building relationships and safety of our whole community,” said Ashfaq Syed, a NILA member who also is president of the Naperville Public Library board.

“I think this is a very important and very critical event for community members to attend, and be a united and a more peaceful community,” he added.

Cordaro said the first World Peace Day gathering was fairly small, based around Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

On Jan. 7, he anticipates a crowd of around 400 people will fill Wentz Hall. More than 20 partners of all faiths, plus North Central College and the DuPage County NAACP, are supporting this year’s event.

Cordaro said a “powerful event” will come at the end, “Called to Be Light to the World,” when all are invited to light a battery-powered votive candle in an affirmation of solidarity.

“That should be pretty cool,” Cordaro said.

Then, people can write notes on they how they plan to enact their aspirations for peace, solidarity and diversity, and post their notes temporarily in the lobby, where a reception with traditional treats will be held.

“My faith is Muslim, but it is very important to learn about other faiths,” Syed said. “And once you learn about other faiths you start respecting them, and you will be kind to every faith.”