Payton O’Bryant, who is in eighth grade, holds a heart-shaped cardboard covered with prayers for peace written by other students at St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville. The heart is one of three that will be posted in the school to remind students and staff to strive for peace. The prayer event was held on Friday, Sept. 8, at the request of Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, to remind students and staff to strive for peace.

HAPEVILLE—Students and teachers at St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville, shared from the heart their desires for peace.

On Friday, Sept. 8, the school community gathered for weekly Mass. After the liturgy, school members each wrote a prayer for peace on a note and then placed it on oversized heart.

The notes filled up three large heart shapes that will be placed around the school as a reminder to young people and teachers to offer prayers for peace.

Later in the day, the school community recited the prayer for peace suggested by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory to both commemorate the 9/11 anniversary and the feast of St. Peter Claver, the patron saint of racial reconciliation.