FR. MC MANUS INSTALLED AS CHIEF JUDGE
Posted By: October 24, 2013
Succeeds former Congressman Lester Wolff
Seoul. South Korea. Thursday, October 24, 2013 — The President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus who travelled to Seoul to be sworn in as one of twelve Judges on the World Peace Prize Awarding Council has, instead, been sworn-in as the Chief Judge.
This followed the resignation of out-going Chief Judge, 94-four-year-old former Congressman Lester Wolff who did not travel to Seoul.
Fr. Mc Manus said: ” I have very big shoes to fill. Lester is a legend for his life-long commitment to equality, justice and peace.”
Reverend Dr.Han Min Su — the Seoul-based Founder and Master Planner of the World Peace Prize entities — was effusive in his praise of Mr. Wolff: ” Only Fr. Mc Manus would be able to replace Lester. All of us are deeply grateful to Lester for his wonderful contributions. We wish him every blessing and he will always in our prayers.”
Barbara J. Flaherty — who was sworn in as both Roving Ambassador for Peace and Executive Vice President — said: “It is a profound honor to be associated with Dr. Han in his splendid World Peace Mission. We in Washington will everything in our power to advance Dr. Han’s magnificent vision.”
ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES
Fr. McManus’ Speech
God bless America and South Korea.
God save Ireland.
And may God grant His peace to our troubled world.
Each of us must pray for peace but we must also WORK FOR JUSTICE because without justice there is no peace.
And without forgiveness there is no hope.
We must, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ” hew out of the mountain of despair the precious stone of hope.”
This year the Catholic Church is celebrating the 50 th. Anniversary of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) the important Encyclical by Blessed Pope John XXIII. In that Encyclical, the Pope likens peace to a house built on four pillars: Truth, Justice, Freedom and Love.
We must build the House of World Peace on these four pillars.
I am most pleased to be here, and to meet the lovely people of South Korea. I am deeply and humbly grateful to Reverend Dr. Han Min Su — and to all involved — for selecting me to be Chief Judge on the World Peace Prize Awarding Council.
I look forward to serving Dr. Han in this role; to providing him with a presence and representation in Washington, DC, with the help of my esteemed and excellent colleague, Barbara J. Flaherty, Roving Ambassador for Peace.
May God’s peace be upon us all.
Barbara’s Speech
It is with great pleasure and humility that I accept this position as Roving Ambassador for Peace.
I have the honor and privilege of working with newly appointed Chief Judge Fr. Sean McManus at the Irish National Caucus, and I see my appointment as an extension of working for peace and Justice in Ireland. I have great admiration for Dr. Han and his outstanding efforts to spread the Gospel of Peace throughout the world.
The road to peace is a difficult one as Dr. Han knows. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
Pope Paul VI summed it up perfectly when he said, “If you want justice, work for peace.”
So today I take great inspiration to be surrounded by people all committed to justice and peace.
This is surely God’s work on earth.
I will continue to work for justice and peace, and as I do, I ask the help of Almighty God and the assistance of all of you to perform my duties as Roving Ambassador for Peace with dedication and diligence
Thank you and may God richly bless all of you.
