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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Bethlehem Peace Light to shine brightly on city

By: Cheryl Girard

Posted: 12/17/2011 8:23 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Mykola Kruk holds candle as Oksana Shulakewych (left) and Chrystyna Hnatiw take part in Bethlehem Pace Light Ceremony. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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Joe Reding's Boy Scouts of America official lantern and fireproof bucket used to transport the Bethlehem Peace Light. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

The Bethlehem Peace Light will shine in Winnipeg.

It will be shared at the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga, 111 McGregor St. Sunday at 9 a.m.

Transporting the Eternal Flame across the world from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem to Winnipeg was no small feat.

From Bethlehem, a flame was flown to Vienna, Austria, and in November, the flame, also known as the Bethlehem Peace Light, was flown to the United States by Austrian Airlines, said Oksana Shulakewych, Peace Light co-ordinator for Winnipeg.

"The sharing is centred in Vienna since it is Austrian Airlines that are willing to take a live flame on board and it has become a project of the Austrian Scouts," she said.

Transported in a blast-proof miner's lamp, the Peace Light travelled first class by jet.

"The head of security for Austrian Airlines and his assistant -- both had to fly with the plane, in the cockpit, from Vienna to New York City," Shulakewych said.

Scouts were given the light to share throughout the United States during a ceremony at JFK International Airport,

"Joe Reding, from the American Boy Scouts, brought it from JFK Airport. There was a special ceremony at the Boy Scout headquarters in Fargo where the light was shared with me," Shulakewych said.

Getting the light to Winnipeg was not without its difficulties, Shulakewych said.

"We had to make arrangements with the Boy Scout council in Fargo. I had to get permission from Ottawa to bring a flame across the border and then the third degree at the border. 'It's the what? For the what? From where?' But it's absolutely worth it -- what a wonderful message of hope and love without any strings attached."

Thanks to the efforts of the Plast sorority (Ukrainian Scouts), the light will be shared in a special ceremony in Winnipeg for the third year in a row, she said, "with many children taking part and singing. From there the flame is taken to other parishes and nursing homes to be shared on Christmas Eve and (Christmas) Day with a message of peace, hope and love."

Peace Light's website states that the mission began in 1986 with the Austrian Broadcasting Company as part of a charitable effort for children in need. Popular in Europe for 25 years and in the United States for the past 10 years, the Peace Light has only made it to Manitoba and Ontario in Canada so far, said Shulakewych.

PeaceLight.org.uk states that the light has been shared with Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and at Ground Zero in New York City in past years.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 17, 2011 J12

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