Interfaith Peace Walk for Muslim Jewish Reconciliation 

"In the Sunshine of God's Love" (excerpts)

It was a full-throated crescendo hit by the 400 or 500 people nearly filling the beautiful St. Augustine's Church at 4th and Vine. Was not the "some singing, most not" you hear at masses on Sunday morning. But on this late Sunday afternoon, there was something else very different about this congregation. Probably only about 10% of the attendees were Catholic. For this was not Sunday mass being celebrated this day, it was stop two of Philadelphia's version of the Interfaith Peace Walk for Muslim and Jewish reconciliation, and of the congregation, more than 80% were probably Jewish and Muslim. It was real cool.

But it was not this song that moved me most while I sat there. Nor was it the brief, beautiful and poignant welcome by Father Mostardi, the Augustinian pastor of St. Augustine's, nor the refreshments and warm welcome provided by the church's large Filipino community—what had me near quaking with emotion or even vibrations was the chant from the Koran by the Amman of the Al Asqua Mosque where our walk had begun. To feel the Spirit is very special. Later, walking with some Muslim friends, I was told this is exactly the effect the chanting of the Koran can bring on—that it is a lyrical, poetic gift from God, meant to be sung. The things you learn walking three some miles with new friends from different faiths. . . .

I chatted with a Hindu scholar who hopped on board our walk coming from an interfaith forum right in town, telling her how much I admired her Gandhi's statement that "God has no religion." I sat with a big, bearded, very Abraham-looking rabbi and three black Muslim clerics from New Jersey at Congregation Rodeph Shalom at Broad and Green, where the powerful closing ceremony and a sorely needed buffet of cheeses, fruits, hummus, soft pretzels, et. al., was presented.

My God what a magnificent day!

Jim McGovern
Jim is a member of CPF

return to 7/04 CPF Newsletter