Dear Brother Priests,
Each Sunday we pray “Our Family Prayer” that God will make us peacemakers of our time and for an end to violence, murder and racism in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and throughout the world.
Every parish has members who are victims of many types of violence. The Church cannot be silent at this crucial time when so many of the faithful have been so deeply affected by violence. Prayer is powerful and can change hearts. This is an opportunity for us as a community of faith to pray for reconciliation and healing and to ask God’s help as we strive to build a better community free from violence and its causes.
On Sunday, September 11, 2022, I will celebrate the annual liturgy for the Victims and Survivors of Violence at the 11:00 a.m. mass at Saint Louis Cathedral.
I ask you to submit the names of families in your parish have been affected by violence and murder. We will send them an invitation to the special Mass. We are asking the families who’ve lost loved ones to bring a framed photo of their family member to carry during the procession. Survivors who attend will also be remembered in prayer.
Thank you for your cooperation and participation in this effort. Let us as a Church give evidence of our concerns. Fraternally in Christ,
Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond
Archbishop of New Orleans
