As the possible start of a war on Iraq draws closer, a group of peace activists for the second time this month will be visiting parishes in Nassau County, including St. Ignatius Loyola Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hicksville. The purpose of the event, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, is to remind parishioners and priests that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has overwhelmingly approved a statement asking President George W. Bush to "step back from the brink of war" against Iraq.

The first peace convoy, which took place on Saturday, Jan. 4, visited six parishes along Nassau's South Shore. This Saturday, the convoy starts at Maria Regina Parish in Seaford, then moves on to St. James in Seaford, St. Ignatius Loyola in Hicksville, Our Lady of Mercy in Hicksville, St. Martin of Tours in Bethpage and St. Kilian in Farmingdale (see Schedule of Events). In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1. (If the weather conditions look doubtful on the convoy day, call 783-5589.) At each stop, members of Pax Christi Long Island - the local presence of the international Catholic peace movement - will join with parishioners and priests in prayer.

The focal point of the parish visits is the delivery of a copy of Bishop William Murphy's statement on Iraq. Bishop Murphy is the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The statement expresses strong doubts that a preemptive attack on Iraq could be justified under classic "just war" principles. "Based on the facts that are known to us," the bishops wrote in part, "we continue to find it difficult to resort to war against Iraq lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature."

Bishop Murphy served on the committee that drafted the statement. In his Nov. 13 column featured in The Long Island Catholic, Bishop Murphy said, "In our statement on Iraq, bishops presented Catholic social teaching clearly arguing against military action on the basis of our analysis of the situation." Bishop Murphy also asked Pax Christi Long Island to help him disseminate the bishops' message.

Veronica Fellerath, the Pax Christi coordinator, called together peacemakers to discuss ways of spreading the message, and Nancy Dwyer of Valley Stream proposed the convoy. "The pope has also spoken very strongly about the war and we really have to get this message out," Dwyer said. "I really would love to see my church known as the peace church."

The convoy's visit is scheduled to last two to three hours, and to be conducted in "prayerful positive spirit". Participation from all who share the bishop's view are welcomed. To join the convoy as a driver or a passenger, or for more information, call Mary Beth Moore, S.C. at 783-5589 or e-mail mmoore@schalifax.ca.

Pax Christi Long Island has 500 members in Nassau and Suffolk Counties and is a division of Pax Christi USA. For information on Pax Christi, call (631) 968-9659 or visit www.paxchristiusa.org.

The second Pax Christi Peace Convoy, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25, will visit six churches in Eastern Nassau. The purpose of the event is to disseminate, in accordance with the mandate of Bishop William Murphy, the statement of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

At each church, participants will pray that America will step back from the brink of an unjust war with Iraq. The pastor or his representative of each parish will be presented with a copy of the Bishop's November 2002 statement of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The schedule of events will be as follows:

* 9:45 - 10 a.m. - Gather at Maria Regina, 3945 Jerusalem Avenue, Seaford (north side of Jerusalem Avenue, about one block west of Hicksville Road).

* Approximately 10:30 a.m. - St. James, 80 Hicksville Road, Seaford. (Seaman's Neck Road and Hicksville Road, one block South of Hempstead Turnpike).

* Approximately 11:15 a.m. - St. Ignatius, 129 Broadway at Nicholas Street, Hicksville (Broadway is actually a continuation of Hicksville Road).

* Approximately 11:45 a.m. - Our Lady of Mercy, 500 South Oyster Bay Road, Hicksville (about 1/4 mile north of Old Country Road).

* Approximately 12:30 p.m. - St. Martin of Tours, Central Avenue (at Seaman Avenue), Bethpage.

* Approximately 1:15 p.m. - St. Kilian, Conklin Street (Hempstead Turnpike), Farmingdale (one block east of Main Street

The event will conclude at St. Kilian and pizza will be served. For directions, call at 783-5589.