Zeny Sicat Edwards: At the forefront of a ‘precious’ need

By Evelyn A. Opilas
NSW-Australia
September 23, 2015



The invitation from Dr Zenaida Sicat Edwards said it all: ‘‘By participating in the commemoration you unite with the global family in working together for peace”.



‘The global family’ refers to the United Nations, and as director of the UN Association of Australia’s Peace Program, Dr Edwards ensures that she and her team of volunteers carry out the world body’s goal articulated by the organisation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon: ‘Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs. It is also the United Nations’ highest calling.’

Her assurance of “I’ll reserve a seat for you” made the invitation more enticing so that in rain and wind, I attended St Mary’s Cathedral 20 Sept. for the ‘Solemn Choral Mass for Peace’ in preparation for the UN International Day of Peace 21 Sept.

Cathedral Dean, Rev Fr Paul Hilder, celebrated the Mass, the Governor of New South Wales David Hurley and his wife, Mrs Linda Hurley, UN officials, and their guests among those present, and linked in his homily Christ’s message of peace and the UN’s goal for peace.

The UN symbol for peace, the dove, also represents the Holy Spirit in the Catholic tradition as the source of enlightenment, wisdom, and discernment.

Ultimately peace can be attained if one is at peace with oneself, Fr. Hilder said from the pulpit.

The activities at the cathedral ended with the ringing of the church bells and the release of white peace doves on the lower cathedral forecourt after brief messages from the Governor of NSW and the UN representative in Australia Christopher Woodthorpe.

Over cups of coffee at the Hyde Park Barracks later, Dr Edwards, an architectural historian, said that to mark this year’s International Day of Peace, church bells would ring at midday in all the participating capital cities of the world, starting with New Zealand.

It is important that the youth are involved in the Peace Project, she said, to enable continuity and to give them a sense that peace is everyone’s concern.

Volunteers of the International Day of Peace comprise university students, some of whom travelled from Canberra to distribute banners, pins, and brochures and to assist at the open air music recital at Martin Place in Sydney.

‘I’d like to bring the International Day of Peace activities to western Sydney in the future,’ said Dr Edwards, an alumna of St Theresa’s College Quezon City, the first Asian and the only one of Filipino ancestry to head the National Trust of Australia. – Evelyn A. Opilas