SHERBORN - Pope John Paul II reached millions of people with different faiths around the globe spreading his message of love, peace and brotherhood. The night he died, in the small town of Sherborn, Lewis Randa of the Peace Abbey recalled how if it weren't for this pope, the abbey would not even exist.

A concert was held Saturday evening featuring the Celtic music performers Magical Strings. But before it began, Randa explained to the audience, "With the passing of John Paul, we're here today but because of him."

Randa went on to say he had the privilege to be present at the Day of Prayer for World Peace which the pope had convened in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 27, 1986. It was the first time in history that the leaders of the 12 major faith traditions gathered together.

Randa said, "The Abbey was created as a direct result of that event, and continues as a legacy of the Holy Father's desire that all God's children know each other through prayer - and through prayer find ways to promote social justice and peace."

While he did not personally have an audience with the pope, Randa said he witnessed this sacred moment in history, and was there to scatter the cremated remains of a student of his Life Experience School.

Ashes scattered

Norman Nylund died of cancer and had the same birthday as St. Francis of Assisi. His parents, feeling blessed by the spiritual qualities of their autistic child, wanted a portion of his ashes scattered in the cloistered gardens of San Damiano, the 12th-century church St. Francis rebuilt in Assisi.

He shared the 12 prayers of peace of Assisi with his students to better understand the teachings of the world's religions. Today, the Peace Abbey's multifaith chapel is an environment that offers visitors Peace Seeds, representing the prayers along with many icons, symbols, sculptures and texts of major spiritual traditions.

The concert was held in the Abbey's conference center. People came as far away as Worcester to attend. [continue]

Arlene Betteridge of Barre said, "It just seemed very appropriate to be here this evening. Pope John Paul was such a messenger of peace. So down through the fog and rain we came."

This was the fourth concert at the Abbey by Magical Strings that takes place the first week in April each year. It was a fund-raiser for the Sacred Cow Animal Rights Memorial, which is located over Emily the Cow's grave.

Emily, who died of cancer in March 2004, is somewhat of a local celebrity. Randa with his wife, Meg, bought Emily for $1 after seeing news reports of her escape from a Hopkinton slaughterhouse.

She had managed to survive in the wild in surrounding communities for 40 days and 40 nights.

Emily delayed

An unveiling of a life-size bronze replica of Emily was scheduled for Sunday, but unfortunately the statue is still at the foundry in Newburgh, N.Y.

Another date has not yet been determined, but will be posted on the Abbey's Web site. An official dedication is also planned for mid-June.

The concert did go on, however, with musicians Pam and Philip Boulding delighting the audience with their distinctive style of music. Playing together for more than 25 years, with a Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer, the Bouldings augment their storytelling with a pennywhistle, concertina and valiha, a Malagasy bamboo harp.

Well known in the Northwest, they have toured the United States, Canada, the British Isles and Japan. They began with a few lively Irish reels, which according to Philip Boulding, "are suitable for the way we celebrate St. Patrick's Day here."

One of the most relaxing pieces was a lullaby written for their 16-month old granddaughter, Margaret. Each of their grandchildren has inspired the artists to compose a song just for them.

Many other pieces performed were from the Magical Strings' new CD, "Where Dragons Dance." According to reviews, their latest release "harnesses the powerful joy to be found in transforming darkness into light. The music is full of captivating rhythms and soulful dialog that invite the spirit to dance." Bard-like music

Before beginning, Philip took listeners back to ancient times where the bards sought three mystical moods of music meant to arouse laughter, sorrow and repose.

He asked, "What if a bard was transported today? What kind of poetry would come forth?" He suggests bewilderment, for these perplexing times. Other pieces were from the CD, "Legend of Inisshcahey," Gaelic for "Island of the Serpent," a melody of Irish gigs delivered with a modern twist.

Stephanie Rosseel, who coincidentally lives not far from the Hopkinton slaughterhouse, came to hear the group because she loves Celtic music.

"Their music is beautiful and has a very rich sound," she said. "It transports you, brings you back, and is timeless."

During intermission, a special audience member was introduced: Philip's mother, Elise Boulding, nationally known peace activist, author and professor who has received a Courage of Conscience Award "to promote the causes of peace and justice, nonviolence and love." She simply said, "The abbey is what I'm about ... peace."

Whether or not all those in attendance agreed with all of the Abbey's political views of conscientious objection and pacifism, it seemed fitting and was consoling to many to be in a place of peace the night of Pope John Paul II's death.

As Randa said, "John Paul lives on in the hearts and minds of people throughout the world who use their religion as a vehicle for reconciliation and peacemaking, who see divinity in their neighbor, and who love the ways others love God.

"I believe John Paul's most enduring legacy is in interfaith dialogue and multifaith understanding. He demonstrated in Assisi during the Day of Prayer for World Peace, the nobility and majesty of multifaith prayer services. Wherever numerous faiths are gathered for peace, John Paul is an unseen participant breathing life and vitality into the dream that we all may be one."