In his homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and
the 50th World Day of Peace Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and
Leighlin said, “2016 brought us to new places in the lexicon of violence
and unrest – Mogadishu in Somalia; Kabul in Afghanistan; Quagadougou in
Burkina Faso; Peshawar in Pakistan; Aleppo in Syria; Ankara in Turkey;
Kashmir in India; Sadr City, Baghdad in Iraq; Aden in Yemen;
Grand-Bassam on the Ivory Coast; Brussels and Zaventem in Belgium;
Lahore in Pakistan; Fallujah in Iraq; Rafah in Egypt; Damascus in Syria;
Mosul in Iraq; Barka and Tipo-Tipo in The Philippians; Beni in the
Congo; Homs in Syria; Ramadi in Iraq; Nineveh in Syria; Istanbul in
Turkey; Sirte in Libya; Orlando in the United States; Lake Chad in the
Cameroon; Kuda in Nigeria; Al Mukalia in Yemen; Wardak in Afghanistan;
Balad in Iraq; Benue in Nigeria; Nice in France; Nampala in Mali;
Benghazi in Libya; Quetta in Pakistan; Kaduna State in Nigeria; Kirkuk
in Iraq; Tikrit in Iraq; Kunduz in Afghanistan; Jizan in Saudi Arabia;
Rakhine State in Myanmar; Ghashghar in Nigeria; Quetta in Pakistan;
Mandera in Kenya; Bambari in the Central African Republic; Madagali in
Nigeria; Cairo in Egypt; Al-Karak in Jordan; Berlin in Germany – as
recently as yesterday there were two terrorist attacks in Baghad where
26 people lost their lives and the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt where two
people lost their lives and as 2017 was rung in we had the first
atrocity of 2017 in Istanbul.“The named places, list off like a litany or recitation, somewhat similar to Matthews genealogy gospel, are the places of significant terrorist activity, places where peace needs to take hold and find root. Places like Mosul in Iraq; Aleppo in Syria and Ankara in Turkey appear far too frequently as does Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. For us here in Carlow, it is just a headline on the 6-1 News; often it doesn’t even make the cut. Regarding the Syrian conflict, the blood bath that is Aleppo, Damascus, Homs, Nineveh to mention but a few – we often go to bed on the news of a ceasefire and by the time our alarm clock goes off the following morning, that ceasefire has been broken. The United Nations has referred to the Syrian conflict as the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II.”
Bishop Nulty was speaking in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, where he addressed some local first responders who were in the congregation for the Mass. Bishop Denis said, “It’s not enough simply to hear the good news, we have a duty to carry the message with us to others we may meet. The first responders in every parish and local community are you the Garda Síochána; I’m honoured tonight to once again celebrate this Mass for you the keepers of the peace on this the evening of the 50th World Day of Peace.”
Bishop Nulty went on to highlight the Kildare and Leighlin Reach Out campaign for Christmas 2016. He said, “Our Diocesan Reach Out this year focused very firmly on the conflict in Syria and our accompanying of those suffering for whom a New Year is all about looking forward. As this New Year begins, the most recent cessation of conflict there seems to be tenuously holding and we pray in our Mass for Peace that it will lead to a lasting long-term solution in that fractured but most historical part of our world.”
Focusing on the individual and what we can do as ‘peacemakers’ in Carlow many miles away from Aleppo, Baghdad or Cairo, Bishop Nulty said, “Many of our Christmas Card greetings were simply themed: “Peace on Earth”.
Peace is something that we as followers of Christ don’t have a complete monopoly on, but we have a clear duty to be people who spread peace, who turn the other cheek, who understand mercy, after our wonderful Jubilee Year and don’t stint in offering it to others. One of my cards carried a prayer written by a Jewish Rabbi, Rami Shapiro: enveloped in your light, may we be a beacon to those in search of light. Sheltered in your peace, may we offer shelter to those in need of peace. Entranced by your presence, may we be present to others.”
Bishop Nulty continued, “Luke’s gospel advances the Christmas story somewhat. We have gone beyond the awe and wonder, the falling on the knees bit. It’s time to stand up and go back out telling others “all they had heard and seen”. The shepherds do what shepherds are expected to do, go back into the hills and the valleys, the ravines and the dikes and spread the message of peace and joy. Pope Francis, quoting his predecessor Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who said too much violence, too much injustice can only be conquered by more love, more goodness. The too much is cancelled by the more! We are called to be generous people who live out of the ‘more’; let’s share that more with others, let’s be peacemakers.
“I was intrigued in the early stages of the so-called violent gang feud that deeply infiltrates some parts of our capital city, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin called on mothers and grandmothers who see the madness of such violence and who in their strength of character can appeal to whatever humanity remains in the hearts of those involved.
Every victim is some mother’s son. It’s interesting that this World Day of Peace always coincides with the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. She is the one who can infiltrate and soften the hardest and coldest of hearts, we plead to her to do just that as we seek to reimagine our approach to conflict using the non-violent prism. Violence doesn’t work, never worked and never will. Two World Wars later we are still struggling to learn that message. You the Garda Siochána are the beacons in our community within Carlow and its hinterland to offer a more non-violent and less threatening approach. Some people suggest religion is the catalyst for many of the world’s conflicts.
As Pope Francis said in the cradle of peace that is Assisi: the name of God cannot be used to justify violence. Peace alone is holy. Peace alone is holy, not war! It’s interesting we mark the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, the day after tomorrow, on January 3rd.”
Bishop Nulty concluded his homily by sharing the Prayer for Peace from the recent Diocesan Reach Out project:
“Lord our God, Father of all humanity: change the hearts of all peoples and their rulers, so that peace may be established among the nations on the foundations of justice, love and righteousness. May the Spirit of Peace descend upon the people of Syria and upon our world Until all conflicts cease And peace reigns on earth. Amen”.