Dear Parishioners and supporters of Immaculate Conception Church,
On May 24th, nineteen children and two adults were brutally gunned down at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We lift up our prayers for the families that are overwhelmed by grief and devastated by yet another mass shooting that took place in the sacred space of a school.
It was nearly 10 years ago that we were horrified by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut. My first cousin, Gregory, had his two children in that school when it happened. His mother, living in Poland, had to endure an agonizing several hours before she was able to find out that her beloved grandchildren were alive. Other children and their family members were not as lucky…
Last Sunday at our church, we prayed for the victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo – a premediated act of racism, a terrorist act targeting an African American community. I encourage you to read the prophetic statement made by the Promoting Human Dignity team of our parish: https://www.icdurham.org/immaculate-conception-catholic-churchrsquo-ldquoanti-racismrdquo-statement.html
The approaching celebration of the Ascension of the Lord reminds us of the tremendous dignity of every human person. It also means that as Christians, we are called to do everything possible to uphold the sacredness of human life, to work for justice and peace, and to address some of the root causes of the violence that wreaks havoc on our cities and nation.
Gun violence is not inevitable. There are common sense, reasonable solutions. I encourage you to check out some of the resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
https://www.usccb.org/resources/backgrounder-gun-violence-mercy-and-peacebuilding-approach-gun-violence?utm_source=ISN+Updates+List&utm_campaign=ee9afc56a1-NEWS_VOICES_081220_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f721035495-ee9afc56a1-255756789&mc_cid=ee9afc56a1&mc_eid=d21ab3f024&bbeml=tp-9ednMvkpnUaM9BElqxY0dw.j8bqh5qEgBECbVA2y9JI1ag.rN5Pc3D98ikyp9Mqwlha1Bw.lw7fZeH6YbEWPnb_1vcAKcQ
At a local level, I hope that our parish and school community will strengthen its commitment and actively participate in the efforts of Durham CAN and other faith-based and civic organizations. We also must support our elected officials in offering solutions and helping to implement them.
As a Franciscan parish, let us stand up to the idolatry of guns and continue to foster the culture of active non-violence, with charity and justice for all. This way, we will help to ensure that our children will have life and have it in abundance.
-Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM
On May 24th, nineteen children and two adults were brutally gunned down at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We lift up our prayers for the families that are overwhelmed by grief and devastated by yet another mass shooting that took place in the sacred space of a school.
It was nearly 10 years ago that we were horrified by the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut. My first cousin, Gregory, had his two children in that school when it happened. His mother, living in Poland, had to endure an agonizing several hours before she was able to find out that her beloved grandchildren were alive. Other children and their family members were not as lucky…
Last Sunday at our church, we prayed for the victims of the mass shooting in Buffalo – a premediated act of racism, a terrorist act targeting an African American community. I encourage you to read the prophetic statement made by the Promoting Human Dignity team of our parish: https://www.icdurham.org/immaculate-conception-catholic-churchrsquo-ldquoanti-racismrdquo-statement.html
The approaching celebration of the Ascension of the Lord reminds us of the tremendous dignity of every human person. It also means that as Christians, we are called to do everything possible to uphold the sacredness of human life, to work for justice and peace, and to address some of the root causes of the violence that wreaks havoc on our cities and nation.
Gun violence is not inevitable. There are common sense, reasonable solutions. I encourage you to check out some of the resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
https://www.usccb.org/resources/backgrounder-gun-violence-mercy-and-peacebuilding-approach-gun-violence?utm_source=ISN+Updates+List&utm_campaign=ee9afc56a1-NEWS_VOICES_081220_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f721035495-ee9afc56a1-255756789&mc_cid=ee9afc56a1&mc_eid=d21ab3f024&bbeml=tp-9ednMvkpnUaM9BElqxY0dw.j8bqh5qEgBECbVA2y9JI1ag.rN5Pc3D98ikyp9Mqwlha1Bw.lw7fZeH6YbEWPnb_1vcAKcQ
At a local level, I hope that our parish and school community will strengthen its commitment and actively participate in the efforts of Durham CAN and other faith-based and civic organizations. We also must support our elected officials in offering solutions and helping to implement them.
As a Franciscan parish, let us stand up to the idolatry of guns and continue to foster the culture of active non-violence, with charity and justice for all. This way, we will help to ensure that our children will have life and have it in abundance.
-Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM