Peace light flame to travel from bethlehem to moate

A 'peace light flame' taken from the birthplace of Jesus is due to arrive in Moate shortly before Christmas.

The flame which originated at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is due to be brought to the Carmelite Friary in Moate on Sunday evening, December 21, for an event which will raise funds for the Society of St Vincent De Paul.

Yesterday (December 10) a small ceremony was held in the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity, where a Palestinian and an Israeli Scout took a light from the flame and carried it to Tel Aviv airport.

At the airport, the peace light flame was given to a young Austrian Scout who was bringing it to Vienna.

On December 13, a Peace Light  Service was held in Vienna. The young Scout will carry the flame to the front of the Church and will light the Viennese Peace Candle.

Representatives of Scout associations from all over the world will be present and will be invited to light their lamps from this candle and to return to their homes with this symbol of peace.

The light will be carried by Scouts, by rail, by road and on foot through Austria, Switzerland and France- through the Channel Tunnel to Dover. The light will next travel to Holyhead where it will be brought by Scouts over the Irish Sea to Dublin Port.

Over the following few days the Peace Light from Bethlehem will be taken by members of Irish Scouting and Guiding to Churches and other place of Christian worship; to Hospitals and to Hostels for homeless people, across the length and breadth of Ireland.

The peace light will arrive in the Carmelite Friary on Sunday evening, December 21, after the Distribution and Ceremony of Light  in Dublin. Father Peter Kehoe, a member of Irish Scouting, will carry the Peace Light to Moate.

It will be brought in procession during the Celebration of Christmas Music and Prayer which takes place at 6 pm that evening. Fr Kehoe, O.Carm, announcing the arrival prayed: “May this Peace Light of Bethlehem travel safely and be received as a sign of our willingness to be Messengers of Peace”

All proceeds from the collection on the night will go to the local Moate Conference of St. Vincent de Paul.