Houston-area Catholics Pray for Peace in Our Communities
September 9, 2016
ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON
For
immediate release
WHAT:
Houston-area Catholics Pray for Peace in Our
Communities
WHEN: Friday,
Sept. 9, 2016, 12:10 p.m., Mass for Day
of Prayer for Peace in Our
Communities, 7 p.m., Prayer Service for
Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities
WHERE: Co-Cathedral of the
Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway,
Houston
CONTACT: Catherine
Rogan, Media Relations Manager, Archdiocese
of Galveston-Houston
713-652-8213
(office) or 713-515-6054 (cell),
crogan@archgh.org
Houston –
For Catholics across the country, Friday,
Sept. 9, 2016, is a Day of Prayer for Peace
in Our Communities. The Archdiocese of
Galveston-Houston will honor the day with a
Mass at 12:10 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7
p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. Both services will
be held at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred
Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Parkway in downtown
Houston. The Office for Vicar for Catholics
of African Descent is coordinating the Mass
and Prayer Service, in conjunction with the
Archdiocese.
On July 21, 2016
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville,
Kentucky, and president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
invited the bishops of all Catholic dioceses
across the country to participate in the Day
of Prayer for Peace. That same day, the
Archbishop appointed a special task force to
support bishops in promoting peace and
healing during this time of great strain on
civil society.
Archbishop Kurtz
made these announcements in light of
incidents of violence and racial tension in
communities across the United States, and as
a direct response to racially-related
shootings in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and
Dallas. The Archbishop said that the
Catholic Church needs to look at ways it can
walk with and help these suffering
communities.
“We have been
blessed here within the Archdiocese of
Galveston-Houston not to have experienced the
horror and tragedy of other major cities in
our nation” said Deacon Leonard
Lockett, the Archdiocesan Vicar for Catholics
of African Descent, “however they are
real and serious structural issues of racism
that affect people here in our
community.”
“The
issue of race and the reality of racism can
no longer be a topic discussed only in an
academic setting or among like parties. We
can no longer wait,” he continued.
“We have to begin an open and honest
dialogue about race and racism in our nation,
warts and all.”
“We
must also begin to live, teach and preach the
Gospel of Social Justice,” said Deacon
Lockett. “It is no longer just enough
to donate to a clothing or food drive; we
have to be a people with a cause. It is
imperative that our clergy truly understand
the significance of their role to advance the
dialogue through challenging and inspiring
preaching and active advocacy.”
Archbishop Kurtz said, “By
stepping forward to embrace the suffering,
through unified, concrete action animated by
the love of Christ, we hope to nurture peace
and build bridges of communication and mutual
aid in our own communities."
It is the largest Roman Catholic diocese in Texas and the 5th largest in the United States.
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