Pledge of Peace
No Greater Love Pledge of Peace
In 1985, Carmella initiated the No Greater Love Pledge of Peace in cooperation with the United Nations. The Pledge was to make children aware of their power and responsibility to help bring about world peace. More than a half million children in a hundred countries signed the Pledge, committing themselves to fostering peace during their lifetimes. To honor this accomplishment, the United Nations designated No Greater Love as a Peace Messenger.
Millions of children watched the space shuttle Challenger take off. For some children, this was an extra special flight. A laser videodisc containing thousands of children’s signatures was flown as part of the Official Flight Kit aboard the ill-fated orbiter, “Challenger” on January 28, 1986. The videodisc, one of the few items NASA miraculously recovered from the ocean floor which was later displayed at the United Nations and the U.S. Capitol. Later it was presented to the Smithsonian Institution by No Greater Love and the first signers of the Pledge — immigrant children from St. Francis de Sales School in Philadelphia, PA.
St. Francis de Sales Elementary School has served minority and immigrant communities since 1904. The 500 plus students are comprised of U.S. born children as well as refugees from over 30 nations. Some of these students and their parents have fled revolutions, ethnic conflicts, and civil wars to come to America. They are the survivors – from Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and dozens of other nations. The Pledge of Peace program was launched with the outstanding support of Sr. Constance Touey, IHM, former Principal and Sr. Jeannette Lucey, IHM, former teacher of St. Francis de Sales School.
