In a year when Pittsburgh's homicide rate is on pace to hit a high for the decade, one anti-violence activist is planning to strike back with biblical imagery -- giving away 5,000 loaves of bread and 5,000 fish at a huge Heinz Field rally in April.

And 1,500 names of homicide victims, all from the last 15 years in Allegheny County, will scroll across the stadium's jumbo video screen.

"It's not real complicated here," Jimmy Cvetic, director of the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League, said yesterday during a news conference at city police headquarters on the North Side. "We've got to make people understand the importance and value of life."

Mr. Cvetic also is working with dozens of groups, from the Pittsburgh Housing Authority to the New Hazlett Theater, to organize several new arts education programs for at-risk youth. The programs will start in the coming months and lead up to the Heinz Field event, "Gathering of Peace."

Over a 26-year career as an Allegheny County police officer and detective, Mr. Cvetic saw more than his fair share of street violence. But the death of Andre Saunders -- a promising young boxer who trained with the athletic league and who was shot in the back in the Hill District on Dec. 3 -- pushed him to try something new.

Mr. Cvetic is hoping thousands of people, including many relatives and friends of homicide victims, will attend the Heinz Field event April 5.

Drawing its inspiration from the New Testament account of Jesus' miracle in multiplying loaves and fishes to feed more than 5,000 followers, the event will have strong Christian overtones. But Mr. Cvetic, who is organizing and raising money for the event, said he seeks to involve representatives of all faiths and welcomes participation of all groups that promote peace.

"I'm putting this all together because I think we need some kind of moral fiber," he said, adding that he approached city police Chief Nate Harper, suburban police chiefs and numerous organizations and officials for support.

"All the religions of the world are basically the same on this point -- don't kill people. I'm bringing them all in."

The release announcing the Heinz Field event and other programs planned by Mr. Cvetic was distributed by city police yesterday prior to the news conference.

Police spokeswoman Diane Richard said the bureau supports Mr. Cvetic's anti-violence effort but is not officially endorsing the event's religious theme or contributing money for it.

"[Mr. Cvetic] said this is a multidenominational event and it crosses all borders. What he uses to express this is of his making," she said. "We support the initiative and the helping of these children. The part we play is more or less taking the guns out of their hands and helping them ... not having them shooting each other and killing each other."

Breadworks on the North Side will donate the 5,000 loaves of bread. Wholey's Fish Market in the Strip District will donate the fish. The Steelers will donate the space.

Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh has agreed to bless the food.

"We want to feed the spirit," Mr. Cvetic said. "We want people to catch on fire and say, 'Hey, we're going to stop shooting each other.'"

The Heinz Field event will include original music composed by Albert Tiberio of St. Vincent College.

After the event, 1,500 candles will be placed in front of the City-County Building, Downtown.

"When he came to me and proposed this, I could see nothing but success," Chief Harper, a devout Christian, said of Mr. Cvetic yesterday. "This is one step in creating more [anti-violence] interventions."

The city has been plagued by fatal shootings this year, and the vast majority of victims are young black males like Mr. Saunders, who Mr. Cvetic said was killed for "bumping into someone."

There have been 64 homicides in the city so far this year, according to police. The number likely will change as officials re-evaluate some deaths, but it already includes seven more deaths than last year's total.

Mr. Cvetic outlined several new projects, all in early stages of development, that are aimed at helping black youths direct their energy toward creative arts.

Annie Snyder, director of North Star Kids, will organize the Golden Triangle Choir, which will recruit teenagers through the athletic league and the Pittsburgh Housing Authority.

The housing authority will take the lead on another project -- distributing 1,000 cameras to youths who want to participate in the One Shot Teenie Harris Contest, named after famed Pittsburgh Courier photojournalist Charles "Teenie" Harris. Contest photos will be displayed at the City-County Building.

The athletic league also will sponsor Laws in Stone, which will bring local attorneys into the schools to explain state laws and the consequences of breaking them.

The Pittsburgh Poetry Society will help with a program called City Hall Poets.

From April 13 to 19, the New Hazlett Theater will host "Ebony," a multimedia production dedicated to the region's homicide victims. Auditions will start Nov. 20.

Many organizations are donating time and resources. Mr. Cvetic said he will get a $10,000 grant from state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Brookline. Several Pittsburgh City Council members have agreed to contribute up to $5,000, he said.