By Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
MORE THAN 4,000 persons from across the nation gathered in Lucea, Hanover, for what has been described as a 'successful' 13th annual National Prayer Vigil held on Sunday night.
The event, which was held under the patronage of Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, saw representatives of different religious denominations coming together to pray for 'justice, healing, unity and peace for the nation.'
Father Percival Lynch, chairman of the Hanover Organising Committee for the National Prayer Vigil, said several persons representing different denominations spoke on the topics of justice, healing, unity and peace.
"It was a mood of prayer and asking for God's guidance for the healing of the nation," he said. Prayers were focused on crime and violence and children in school, he said.
Senator Noel Sloley represented Prime Minister, Hon P.J. Patterson, and Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, represented the Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga, at the event.
Both men read lessons from the Bible. The contributions from collections at the vigil will finance the purchase of a Renotron machine for the Renal Unit at the Kingston Public Hospital and help set up a half-way house for the mentally ill in Hanover.
