All articles tagged with #prayer vigil
Pope Leo XIV welcomed a two-week Middle East ceasefire, urged all parties to resume dialogue to end the conflict, and invited people worldwide to join a Prayer Vigil for Peace at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11 at 6:00 p.m. Rome time, stressing diplomacy and collective prayer ( noting Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire ).
Five years after the Beirut port explosion, a prayer vigil was held to remember the victims, with Pope Leo XIV expressing solidarity and hope for justice and truth. The event included memorials, trees planted in honor of victims, and calls for ongoing investigation, amidst Lebanon's ongoing political and social crises. The Pope's message emphasized compassion and the importance of seeking justice for the victims, while the country continues to face internal and external challenges.
Community members in Oconee County gathered at a prayer vigil to support injured deputy Corporal Lucas Watts, who was shot during a chase. The shooting occurred during an attempted traffic stop, and Watts remains hospitalized with critical injuries. The suspect, Gregory Maxwell, was also shot and is in the hospital. The incident is under investigation by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
A recent graduate of the Solomon Schechter School of Long Island in Williston Park was among the hostages taken during the attacks on Israel, according to a rabbi from the Merrick Jewish Centre. Worried community members gathered at a "Stand With Israel" service to support each other and pray for peace. A prayer vigil in Syosset also showed support for Israel on the North Shore of Long Island.
A prayer vigil will be held for a Bowie High School band member who collapsed during a football game and remains in critical condition at University Medical Center of El Paso. The student received immediate medical attention and was transported to the hospital. The vigil will take place at Jefferson High School.
A high school quarterback, Mason Martin, collapsed on the field during a game in Butler County, Pennsylvania. He was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for treatment, and his parents have stated that he has a brain injury and remains in critical condition. Doctors are waiting for the swelling to go down before assessing the extent of the damage. A prayer vigil has been scheduled for Martin, and the remainder of the game was called off following the injury.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was booed and heckled at a prayer vigil in Jacksonville for the victims of a racially motivated shooting at a Dollar General store. As DeSantis approached the podium to speak, some in the crowd expressed their displeasure, with one person shouting, "You're not welcome here." The governor's policies, including loosening gun laws and curbing efforts to teach Black history in schools, have faced criticism. DeSantis attempted to continue speaking but eventually stopped due to the growing boos and heckling. Jacksonville councilwoman Ju'Coby Pittman stepped in to address the crowd. DeSantis' office later directed funds towards campus security at a historically Black university and support for the victims' families.
Family members, advocates, and the Charlotte community gathered for a prayer vigil sponsored by the Radical Justice Network at Little Rock AME Zion Church to show support for Allisha Watts, who has been missing for over 20 days. Despite criticism of the police's handling of the case, the vigil aimed to keep hope alive and provide a space for community members to support one another. The vigil followed the release of a 911 call made by Watts' cousin, requesting a welfare check after she had not been seen for three days. Another vigil is planned for August 15 in Moore County.
Two brothers, aged 14 and 18, were killed in a boating crash on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. The victims, identified as Chase and Cole Fischer, were the sons of Greg Fischer, the chairman of Fischer Homes. The real estate developer expressed their grief and asked for privacy during this difficult time. A candlelight prayer service will be held in their honor.
Dozens of people gathered for a prayer vigil in Massachusetts to honor the three victims of a triple murder in Newton. The victims, Gilda and Bruno D'Amore and Lucia Arpino, were found stabbed and beaten to death in their home. Christopher Ferguson, a 41-year-old resident of Newton, has been arraigned on charges of murder, assault and battery, and burglary in connection with the slayings. The community has come together to support the victims' family, with Cardinal Seán O'Malley and Pope Francis offering prayers. The investigation is ongoing, with evidence of forced entry and surveillance footage implicating Ferguson.
Bishop Bernard Wright, who was injured in a hit-and-run during a prayer vigil for Stanley Davis III in December 2022, has died from complications of his injuries. Wright was a community advocate and an advocate for justice for all people. The suspect in the hit-and-run, Jamal Lormejuste, was traveling at an excessive speed in a rented Camaro when he struck Wright. Wright sustained several broken bones from the crash and his recovery was called a miracle by doctors. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
The funeral for St. Croix County Deputy Kaitie Leising, who was shot and killed in the line of duty, will be held on Friday afternoon with law enforcement honors. A law enforcement procession will take place around 3 p.m. and delays are expected along the route. Roughly 1,500 officers are expected to attend Friday’s events. Law enforcement officers and community members are invited to attend a prayer vigil hosted by a former police chaplain at the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol Friday night starting at 6 p.m.
The Eaton Police Department is asking residents to check their security footage from the night 14-year-old Scottie Morris disappeared. Morris was last seen on March 16, 2023, and authorities have been searching for him with boats, drones, and K9 units. The search has not been called off, and a statewide Silver Alert remains in effect. Eaton churches have organized a candlelight prayer vigil for Morris, and anyone with information should contact the Eaton Police Department or call 911.