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World Peace Mass Celebrated in Yap

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): November 2001 - Despite the terrorism aftershocks that continue to ripple across the globe, the hope for World Peace remains strong community pillar for most countries.

In Yap, the United Nations Day was a big celebration of Peace. On October 26, 2001 all schools, Government Offices, and almost all private organizations on Yap were closed for the United Nations Day.

Mass was held at the Community Center in the mroning, the theme being "Yap United for Wold Peace." An estimated crowd of more than 500 people showed up to attend the mass, the majority of whom were choir members form the different parishes around the island.

The mass was said by Father Thal and Father Pauline, accompanied by Deacon Fachibman from Gagil and Deacon Flecho' from Tomil. The Offertory Goft of $488,99 was announced before mass commenced, but people were still bringing in their contributions even afterwards. That sum has not yet been totaled.

In Father Thal's homily, he stressed two ponts - the world is changing fast, and peace starts in the heart. He eloborated on the first point by saying that no matter how small, isolated, and far away we are from the "center" of war right now, what happens there still affects us here ("be aw angin ngodad"), a matter of globalization.

He also stressed that peace first starts in the heart, then spreads from our hearts to others'. The same goes for hate. It too starts in the heart. Father Thal defined a terrorist as someone who does not care about what he/she does or how it affects anyone else.

So people might be saying that the terrorists are in Afghanistan, but Father Thal says that they also thrive in Yap. He concluded his homily by asking for peace in families. communities, the islands and in the world.