As the one-year mark since the August 27 tragedy approaches, Annunciation Church and School leaders encourage each of us to be a light that outshines the darkness of the senseless violence of that day. To do that, they invite all churches, regardless of denomination, to be in solidarity with them in two ways.
First, the Annunciation church bells will ring out at 8:26 a.m. on August 27, in remembrance of when the violence began. They invite you all to do so as well.
Second, spend some time in both prayer and service within our local communities. You may want to add a time of prayer to your daily Mass for the Annunciation community as it continues to recover, host a special prayer service in the morning to honor the lives of Fletcher and Harper, or collaborate with neighboring churches to honor those whose lives were forever changed on August 27. In short, please recommit yourselves to being beacons of light and peace in your communities. You know your faith communities best and can discern what kind of service project – big or small – could also be a time to gather, pray, and make a difference in the lives of others.
Annunciation Church and School are grateful for the prayers and offers of support, and because the healing and recovery process are long, those looking to help the Annunciation community are encouraged to donate through the Healing and Hope Fund through the Catholic Community Foundation. This is the most effective and efficient way to assist the parish temporally.
For August 27 Masses, if priest celebrants consider it beneficial, they may set aside the liturgical text (Roman Missal and Lectionary) of the Memorial of Saint Monica and choose instead other appropriate texts, for example, Various Needs and Occasions n. 30 “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice.” It would also be fitting to include an intention in the Prayers of the Faithful, especially for the repose of the souls of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski and the consolation of their families and all involved.
