{"id":5429,"date":"2019-03-24T12:24:55","date_gmt":"2019-03-24T19:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pacificainstitute.org\/bay-area\/?p=5429"},"modified":"2019-03-25T12:11:43","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T19:11:43","slug":"interfaith-prayers-vigils-for-victims-of-new-zealand-mosques-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pacificainstitute.org\/bay-area\/2019\/03\/24\/interfaith-prayers-vigils-for-victims-of-new-zealand-mosques-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Interfaith Prayers & Vigils for victims of New Zealand mosques shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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New Zealand Prayer Service
\nPacifica Institute
\nMarch 16, 2019, Deacon Steve Herrera<\/p>\n

Merciful Lord, Loving Father of us all,
\nYou know the anguish of the sorrowful,
\nYou are attentive to the prayers of the humble.
\nHear your people Lord, who cry out to you in our time of distress and grief.<\/p>\n

We as Catholics, Jews, Christians and people of good will gather together with you, our Muslim brothers and sisters to embrace you in your grief.\u00a0 May we be a sign of God\u2019s loving care and support for you, through our presence with you today.<\/p>\n

No one should have to live in fear because of the way they choose to worship God, especially in their\u00a0 place of worship. Religious communities throughout the community stand in solidarity with you, our Muslim brothers and sisters, and express our sincere condolences to the victims and their families.<\/p>\n

We are completely devastated by this senseless act of hatred. We hold you in prayer this day and hope that our presence is a sign of God\u2019s presence with you now, during this difficult time.<\/p>\n

Be assured of our continuing prayers in the wake of this terrible tragedy. We as Catholics and Muslims share the same Abrahamic root, we believe in the same God. We are brothers and sisters. We stand in solidarity with you and cry out WITH you to the Lord our God to give us the faith and strength to withstand\u00a0 threats of fear and death.<\/p>\n

I am utterly saddened for those who lost their lives and the fear and anxiety this causes Muslims. The freedom to worship and to practice one\u2019s own religion is an absolute right and no one should ever fear for their lives because of how they practice their faith!<\/p>\n

We as Catholics stand with you, my Muslim Brothers and Sisters, we vow to support you and protect your right to worship God in your own way, in peace.<\/p>\n

Who was murdered in New Zealand? They were fathers, mothers, grandparents, daughters and sons. They were refugees, immigrants and New-Zealand born.<\/p>\n

Some of those killed included:
\nMucad Ibrahim, 3 years old
\nAbdullahi Dirie, 4 years old
\nSayyad Milne, 14 years old..and many others…
\nMay God comfort those left behind who are grieving the loss of their loved ones\u2026. Pause
\nMay the peace of God,
\nWhich is beyond all understanding,
\nEmbrace your hearts and minds today
\nAs we are gathered together\u2026..
\nMay the love of God bless and console us,
\nAnd gently wipe every tear from our eyes.
\nWe praise you Loving father, you are our refuge, you are our strength.<\/p>\n

We know your presence, we know your support through the presence of all who have gathered today.<\/p>\n

—Today we pray in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters,
\n—Tomorrow, may God give us the strength to stand up against Islama-phobia where ever it appears…
\n—Tomorrow may God give us the courage to work for adequate gun laws that require background checks and other comprehensive approaches to end gun violence.
\n—May God strengthen our resolve to stand up for one another so that we may all live and worship in peace, without fear.<\/p>\n

We will find strength in our fellowship with one another,
\nWe will find hope in our faith communities,
\nAnd we will live in solidarity with one another to promote a more peaceful world.<\/p>\n

We will overcome. We will stand firm in our faith.
\nWe will stand up for one another. We will work for a more just world and we will advocate for just laws to protect us all.<\/p>\n

May the God of comfort be with us and especially with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in New Zealand\u2026 AMEN<\/p>\n

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