Prayer Vigil

Deacon Bill Coffey, a participant in Moving Beyond Racism, organized the first “Prayer Vigil” after homicides climbed to record numbers in 1999. He was featured in St. Anthony Messenger’s May 2004 issue. The following excerpt comes from that article entitled “Praying at Murder Sites” (page 18):

…Faced with more than 40 murders each year in the county, five years ago a deceptively simple grassroots response began that continues to be a source of comfort and hope whenever a homicide occurs. It all began in prayer.

Confronted with the endless local homicide reports, Coffey had been praying about what the parish faith community could do in the face of such violence. His thoughts crystallized after he went on “Beyond Racism” retreats in 1997 and 1998. When I came home from the second retreat, I typed up a proposal for holding a prayer vigil at future homicide sites and sent that proposal to 10 people I knew and trusted, he says. All of the responses were very positive.

When a homicide takes place an e-mail is sent out to people who have requested to be an on that e-mail list. We represent various age groups, are from the city and the suburbs, are of various faiths, cultures and ethnic groups. We gather in a circle at noon at the site of the homicide to pray aloud or silently for the victim and all those touched by this violence. Those of us who can’t be at the site offer a prayer wherever we happen to be. It is a way to say that this person mattered and to re-hallow the ground. Quite often family members, friends of the victim and neighbors join in the prayer vigil. After praying we leave flowers at the site. At times some of us remain afterwards to be present to those who have lost someone they cared for, to listen .. to offer a hug … to support them in their grief. Rev. Karyn L. Carter, the executive director of the support group Families and Friends of Murdered Children and Victims of Violence, is often at the prayer vigils to let people know there is additional support available. Her phone number is (585) 428-2265 or you can e-mail Rev. Carter.

If you would like to be contacted by e-mail or if you would like to know how to begin prayer vigils in your community please contact rstmarys@dor.org or call (585) 232-7140.