Episcopalians join Mother's Day Walk for Peace
Readers in countries other than the United States may not be
familiar with one of the origins of the American celebration of Mother’s Day,
(not to be confused with Mothering Sunday).
Thus it was that in Boston “The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace” began in 1996 for families who had lost children to violence; over the years, it has become a way for the wider community to show a commitment to peace and financially support the work of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
The Revd Kim Hardy
Around 1870, (soon after the end of the Civil War) Julia Ward
Howe called for a Mother's Day to be celebrated each year to encourage pacifism
and disarmament amongst women. It continued to be held in Boston for about ten
years under her sponsorship, but died out after that.
For more about Julia Ward Howe see:
Peace was at the heart of that early observance of Mother’s
Day.
Thus it was that in Boston “The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace” began in 1996 for families who had lost children to violence; over the years, it has become a way for the wider community to show a commitment to peace and financially support the work of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.
According to Boston.Com
thousands of folks participated in the walk this year.
Among them were some 650
Episcopalians, walking in part to honour
the memory of Jorge Fuentes a nineteen
year old member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Boston) who was gunned down
in September 2012, and in part to work against violence in the City.
Some of my friends were part
of the Boston walk today
The Revd Kim Hardy
Massachusetts Sate Rep. Byron Rushing (he with the super beard and great smile) |
Bishop Gayle Harris and the Revd. Kim Hardy. |
Massachusetts Bishop Tom Shaw SSJE in the walk. Bishop Shaw is an Episcopal Monk as well as being a Bishop - hence his garb. |
My beloved and admirable Bishop Barbara C Harris - the first female Bishop in the Anglican Communion. |
For information about
another “root” of Mother’s Day by Ann Reeves Jarvis, and especially by her
daughter Ann see:
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