WINTER PARK | Two peace poles were installed and blessed at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center Feb. 3, 2024.

The members of the Lady Poverty Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order purchased the first one hoping for an end to the war in Ukraine, and the second when more battles broke out around the world. Each pole is inscribed with the message, “May peace prevail on earth” in many languages.

A peace pole was also gifted to a group of students representing the Franciscan Youth Group at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Student Sam B. said, “Peace is when we all come together to follow the will of God. It is when we respect the dignity of all people, and it can be fully achieved when we love our neighbor as God loves us.”

Students from several parishes including St. Andrew, St. John Vianney and St. Philip Phan Van Minh also attended the ceremony along with a Ukrainian representative from St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church, and University of Central Florida’s Student Jewish Life Center.

There are more than 250,000 peace poles across every continent. To learn more, click here.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, February 08, 2024