MOUNT CARMEL - Parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church took time from daily activities Saturday to pray for peace in Syria and other nations throughout the world.
The Rev. Frank Karwacki, pastor, led the assemby in recitation of the rosary and the angelus prayer during the special observance at noon in the church sanctuary.
The service was planned in response to a statement issued by Pope Francis and the Vatican calling on Catholics throughout the world to pray for an end of the violence from civil wars that have resuled in death and destruction, especially in Syria and Egypt. The pope's statement was read by Karwacki, who joined Pope Francis in denouncing the use of chemical weapons by Syrian forces that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent victims.