St. Joseph Catholic Community
Parish Center

Receiving Ceremony December 10, 4:00 PM
Burning Brightly through January 9

This year the Peace light will again travel from Bethlehem to New York, and then the midwest. The Bethlehem Peace Light will then be distributed
throughout the Twin Cities in December, including here at SJCC!
You can witness this beautiful and meaningful flame at the Peace Light Ceremony and
in the Sanctuary at the Parish Center during the Christmas season and even take flame to .
home with you!



Hosting the Bethlehem Peace Light is a Beautiful Ecumenical Advent Event

The Peace Light carries a long tradition to spreading light and hope across the globe. Each year, a child from Austria is chosen and flown with their family to Tel Aviv, Israel. They then travel to the grotto in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The child transfers the flame from the lamps there, which have been tended to for nearly 2,000 years, to two blast-proof miners’ lamps. The family and the Peace Light are flown back Vienna, Austria where the Peace Light is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of peace, to their own countries. The Peace Light is flown from Bethlehem to New York City, then distributed to designated recipients around the United States. St. Joseph Catholic Community has been fortunate to be a part of this yearly ceremony!

Visit www.peacelightnorthamerica.org
to track the Peace Light from Bethlehem to New York City to St. Joseph's in New Hope!



The SJCC Bethlehem Peace Light is located in the Parish Center Sanctuary.
All are welcome to take a flame from the Peace Light and bring it home.
The Peace Light will continue to burn throughout the Christmas season at SJCC. 

Let There Be Peace On Earth
and Let it Begin With Me

(click the picture for a beautiful video and to listen to the song of St. Francis)
 

Remembering the Peace Light's Journey to
St. Joseph Catholic Community

2022: The Cancino Family of SJCC, representing the Scout Troop 67, received the Peace Light in Shakopee as it made its journey to the west. Fr. Terry Rassmussen hosted a welcoming reception ceremony on Saturday, December 10 at 4:00 PM at the Parish Center. All are welcome to be graced with the Peace Light's symbolism of peace and take a flame home with you.

2021: Fr. Terry Rassmussen received the Peace Light in the Sanctuary, directly from area coordinator and prominately displayed on the Baptismal font for all to witness.

2020: Sadly the Peace Light was not flown to North America due to the pandemic. A virtual option allowed us to continue sharing the Peace Light's message of peace and friendship
(Virtual Peace Light Ceremony, Sunday, December 6). Please offer a prayer of gratitude for the Peace Light, for even during these trying, stressful times, the Peace Light shines bright against the darkness.

2019: The Cancino Family of SJCC, representing the Scout Troop 67 introduced the Peace Light to St. Joseph's Catholic Community.

December 14 - Transport to MN
The Cancino Family of St. Joseph Catholic Community received the Peace Light which originated from Bethlehem and then traveled to New York, Indiana, Illinois, and then to Wisconsin where Chuck Roach from Hudson, WI delivered it to Plymouth, MN.

December 17 - St. Joe's Reception

The Peace Light arrived at St. Joseph Catholic Community where it will burn throughout the Christmas season.  It will be available to all who want to receive the flame of peace.

For transporting the flame, a lantern fueled by smokeless paraffin oil is suggested.

December 17 thru January 5

The Peace Light glows peacefully in the St. Joseph's sanctuary as a sign of hope for peace throughout the world..