LEARN MORE ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Liturgical resources from Bishops United Against Gun Violence
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A LITURGY OF LAMENT
The diocesan Gun Violence Prevention Task Force offered a Liturgy of Lament for gun violence victims on Dec. 6, 2023. The hope was that the liturgy would strengthen and comfort as we strive to shine a light on the devastating epidemic of gun violence in our nation. The liturgy was also offered for use in other communities as they engage in efforts to end gun violence. Please feel free to use the bulletin as offered on Dec. 6, 2023, or adapt the fuller version with additional resources to suit your service.
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ADDITIONAL PRAYERS
– Excerpted from “A Prayer to End Gun Violence,” by People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO); find the prayer on the Social Justice Resource Center
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God of the murdered and the victim,
The voice of lamentation echoes across the land.
Wailing beside graves opened too soon,
Weeping beside stains of blood
From the dead and the injured
Pouring forth from bullet wounds:
The child shot,
The suicide,
The domestic assault,
The gang violence,
The mass murder,
The long night of death made easy by guns
And automatic weapons.
The long night of sorrow made easy
By reckless access to machines of slaughter.Amen.
– Excerpted from “Against Gun Violence,” © 2016 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com )
