Peace Icon completes tour of Westminster

The Peace Icon completed its tour of Westminster on the eve of the eve of the start of London 2012. The Pax Christi Icon travelled in relay between five Westminster parishes in the last month as part of the 100 Days of Peace initiative.

The Icon was welcomed first to St Patrick's, Wapping, on 8 June 2012, 50 Days before the start of the Olympic Games, where visitors included clients from the Jesuit Refugee Service.

St John Vianney's held a week of parish Mission to mark the visit of the Icon evening service was held every day during the week, focusing on one of the Icon images. Speakers included Bruce Kent on St Boris and St Gleb, and Ann Farr on Abraham and Sarah. Talks and times of meditation were held at Our Lady's, St John's Wood, and St Joseph's, Bishop's Stortford. A full programme of events at Welwyn Garden City included the opening of a Peace Garden at the parish church of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, and singing to early morning commuters at Welwyn Garden station.

The purpose of the Peace Icon relay is to create a 'ring of prayer' around the capital to pray for a peaceful Games. The Icon is currently at Brentwood Cathedral and will travel to parishes in Brentwood and Southwark Dioceses until 50 days after the end of the Paralympic Games, finishing at Southwark Cathedral.

A final Mass will be held at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, on 28 October 2012, 3pm, to give thanks for all that has taken place during the 100 Days of Peace and to ensure that our efforts to build peace during the Olympic period do not end there.

Symbols of the Peace Legacy will be handed over to the Brazilian Catholic Chaplaincy as Brazil takes up the challenge of hosting the next Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. Brazil, too, wants peace and people of all nations are invited to help bring the world closer to it over the next four years.