Fall River to hold Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace and Justice

FALL RIVER — The Fall River Diocese will host an Interfaith Prayer Service for Peace and Justice this Sunday, June 14, at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has extended an invitation to clergy and religious leaders from Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands to come to pray together for an end to racism and its many injustices.

The prayer service will be livestreamed on the diocesan Facebook page, www.facebook.com/fallriverdiocese.

Members of all faith communities are invited to attend, but must register for the event by visiting www.fallriverdiocese.org. Given capacity restrictions in place in the cathedral because of the coronavirus pandemic, seating space is very limited. Seats will be allotted to those who register on a first-come, first-served basis. No registrations will be accepted after Friday, June 12.

In his invitation to religious leaders, Bishop da Cunha writes, “Gathering peacefully to pray together regardless of our differences can provide a wonderful example of the harmony to which we are called as members of one human family and children of the same God.”

Representatives of the different communities of faith in attendance will take part in the prayer service that will include readings of Scripture and Psalms, a reflection by Bishop da Cunha, intercessory prayers and music.

The planned prayer service is one of many events across the state and the nation that have followed the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In a June 3rd statement following the tragic death of Mr. Floyd and its aftermath, Bishop da Cunha said, “As members of the Church, we cannot turn a blind eye when citizens are deprived of their human dignity and even their lives…Our efforts to build a culture of life needs to include a commitment by all of us to combat racism and its effects in our civic and social institutions. This commitment needs to bring to an end the indifference that has allowed the evil of racism to persist. Some may believe it is enough to be non-racist, but history has shown the need for more. We need to be actively anti-racist.”

The Diocese encourages all to set time aside this Sunday to take part in this Interfaith Prayer Service, whether at the cathedral or virtually via livestream, to unite their prayers with those of others across our area for racial equality and for peace and justice for all.