Boy Scouts council to host Bethlehem Peace Light

Staff report

Warren

For more than 26 years, the Peace Light from Bethlehem has been brought overseas to America through the cooperation of the Austrian Broadcasting Company, Austrian Airlines and the Austrian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. The 2016 arrival will be Saturday in New York.

Boy Scouts of America — Greater Western Reserve Council in the Youngstown-Warren area is once again a stop. The International Peace Light will be available to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and continue during that time until Dec. 21 at GWRC Council office, 4930 Enterprise Blvd. NW.

The Peace Light originates in the grotto where the Christ child was born in Bethlehem and is delivered by a young Austrian child to the Austrian Airlines where it is placed in two blast proof miner lamps and flown from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Vienna, Austria. The light is then distributed throughout 20 European countries and overseas, including North America, via land routes and Austrian Airlines as a symbol of peace.

This year’s sponsor in the United States is the Brooklyn Catholic Committee on Scouting. It will receive the Peace Light from JFK Airport and provide for its distribution throughout North America.

Individuals and organizations of all faiths and/or denominations are invited to bring a wind-proof container or lamp and to take the Nativity of Bethlehem flame back to their place of worship in order to provide this Peace Light to their own congregations to commemorate Christmas or take home for their own personal use for the holidays.

The Greater Western Reserve Council is looking for local sponsors to house the Peace Light. It would require you giving it a suitable residence at your place of worship. Any ceremonies, rites or programs may be performed at your option to honor this Light of Peace.

Contact Mike Kupec at330-519-3988 or lasmak@neo.rr.com, Bob Granchie at 330-755-7205 or bobgranchie@sbcglobal.net or Jacqueline Bell at 330-898-8474 or Jackie.Bell@scouting.org. Visit: www.peacelight.org or www.scout.org/peacelight.