This is the second year the Interfaith Council has celebrated the International Day of Peace, but the first year it’s been a formal sponsor of the program.

Rebecca Farnum, co-chair of MSU Campus Interfaith Council, said the council began planning for the event six months ago. Farnum said she was excited to introduce a secular humanist to the group of speakers this year.

“Last year we did not have secular humanism as part of the program, but now we’re bringing that into the fold,” Farnum said.

“Most of the organizers for this event are Christian, so it will be nice for those that are Christian to hear different voices that are not heard loudly enough in America.”

At the end of the celebration, guests could participate in “Unifying Our Pathways,” tying crepe ribbons together to create one large circle.

Organizers also collected donations for relief efforts for victims of the recent flood in Pakistan.

Penny Zago, chair of the guiding committee for the Shalom Center, said the center has held events on the International Day of Peace for several years.

Zago said she hopes people will leave feeling united to others.

“We are all taking different paths in life,” Zago said. “It’s not a six-lane highway, but we’re all going toward the same thing — working toward peace. I’m hoping people will feel the unity in what we do, and as long as they feel it was worth their time and it was meaningful to them, that’s the main goal.”

Communication senior Garrett Reinig came to the event with members from his group, the Wesley Foundation for MSU, a Methodist organization.

“We’re big on social justice and peace among all faiths, and I saw this event as a opportunity to participate in that,” Reinig said.

“I wanted to get a greater sense of understanding the perspectives of other faiths, and a better perspective of life in general.”