Giving
May Peace Prevail on Earth
The Franciscan Sisters of Mary planted a Peace Pole on the campus of Saint Louis University Medical Center in October 2004. The planting ceremony celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the FSM Declaration of Nonviolence, which encourages peace-making at all levels.
The planting ceremony was held during the FSM's annual Assembly, and included prayer, reflection, acknowledgement of victims of violence and a call to peace.
The Peace Pole Project was initiated in Japan by The World Peace Prayer Society and was launched to uplift humankind toward harmony rather than conflict. To date, over 200,000 Peace Poles have been planted around the world in over 180 countries. In the United States, there are over 7,500 Peace Poles.
The eight-foot, four-sided Peace Pole includes the message, May Peace Prevail On Earth, in four languages. Besides English, the other selected languages are Spanish, German and French.
The Franciscan Sisters of Mary have a long history of association with the Jesuit-sponsored University. In partnership with the Jesuits, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary began the Saint Louis University School of Nursing in 1929, with four FSM serving as the school's dean over its 75-year history. From this association, the University's School of Allied Health also began.
An identical Peace Pole was planted on the grounds of St. Mary of the Angels Convent following the ceremony at Saint Louis University.