Twenty-four hours of nonstop prayer for peace in the Holy Land

(January 28. 2012) In more than 400 cities around the world on January 31, - twenty-four hours of prayer for peace in the Holy Land- prayer services and Masses will be held for an international day of intercession for peace. The initiative will also be observed at the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza, where a Mass is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. local time. At 5:30 a.m. local time, the basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem will begin the 24 hours of prayer at the altar of Calvary.The initiative involves individuals, groups, religious orders, and associations in Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, and Australia. Hour by hour, the celebrations will pass from the faithful in one city to another, in places like Rome, New York, and Krakow. Small towns will also be involved, like dioceses in Peru and Mozambique.The organizers also highlight the participation of Cardinal Raffaele Farina, prefect of the Vatican apostolic library, who on the morning of the 31st will celebrate the Mass with the Salesian community of the Vatican printing office. The international day of intercession for peace is promoted by four associations: "Adunanza eucaristica," "Adorazione perpetua," the apostolate “Youth for Life" and the national association "Papa boys." In order to help the initiative reach as many people as possible all over the world, the organizers have also created a Facebook page entitled "We want peace in the Holy Land."