St. Michael Parish is blessed to be a gloriously multicultural and diverse community of believers. We are each a member of the Body of Christ and, as members, we are all responsible for caring for the members who are hurting and broken. I know that when I have an injury, that part of my body gets the most attention, so that it can rest and heal! To any of our brothers and sisters of color who are hurting due to racism, we, as the Body, collectively pray and suffer with you in solidarity.
Moments like this cause people of good will, who believe in the value, respect, and dignity of every human life, to wonder if and how we can move on from here. The horror of George Floyd’s death, like all acts of racism, hurts all of us in the Body of Christ since we are each made in the image and likeness of God and deserve the dignity that comes with that existence. (Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory)
We are working on pulling together Catholic resources and action avenues over the next few weeks but you can begin now by praying on these two questions.
What is racism?
Where do we, as a faith family here at St. Michael Parish, need to take action in order to heal this sin?
(A Prayer Service for Racial Healing in our Land | USCCB)
God of Heaven and Earth, you created the one human family and endowed each person with great dignity. Aid us, we pray, in overcoming the sin of racism. Grant us your grace in eliminating this blight from our hearts, our communities, our social and civil institutions. Fill our hearts with love for you and our neighbor so that we may work with you in healing our land from racial injustice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.