Bethlehem Peace Light Burns Brightly in LaGrange Park

Simona Istrate receives the flame of the Peace Light from
Bethlehem as part of the Romanian Catholic tradition. Taisa
Browar (middle) and her daughter, Irena, both scouts, brought
the Peace Light to the chapel.

A Peace Light that comes from the eternal flame that burns continuously in a cave in Bethlehem – honored as the birthplace of Jesus – arrived at the LaGrange Park Center chapel on December 23rd, 2009.

The history of the Peace Light is that, every year, an Austrian Boy Scout fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem. An Austrian Airlines jet carries it in three blast proof miners’ lamps from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Vienna, Austria. At a Service of Dedication, delegations from across Europe light their lamps from the Bethlehem flame and carry them back, with a message of peace, to their own countries. Austrian Airlines then flies the miners’ lamps containing the Peace Light from Bethlehem to NYC.

Dr. Taisa Browar, from the Plast Ukranian Scouts Chicago, was one of four recipients of the flame in Chicago, to spread the flame as a prayer for peace. She is an adult scout who, along with her daughter, Irena, graciously brought the Peace Light to the chapel where five employees received it.

Simona Istrate was the first to receive the light in a Romanian oil lamp, a gift from her father. Insaf Ismail received the light as the congregation prayed for all people in the east, including her country of Sudan. Next, Juana Guzman received it as everyone in the chapel said a prayer for all people of the south, including her country of Mexico. Regina Migasz received it as everyone prayed for people in Asia, including her family’s country of China. Francois Dahamni, representing Canada, received it on behalf of people in the north.

The timing for receiving this gift was perfect. During the Congregation’s Christmas Eve Liturgy, the Peace Light, set in a firepot, was placed before the altar where it kept vigil for peace. Then it was lifted high as the congregation sang and was blessed and commissioned to go forth and live in such a way that peace will come to Earth.

On New Year’s Day, the Peace Light went to St. Alexis in Bensenville, Ill. where Sister Laurina Kahne, CSJ, ministers to Hispanics. For more on the Peace Light go to www.peacelight.org