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On this day of National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia we denounce all forms of racism, hate, and discrimination.
Encouraging everyone to show respect and openness for a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
The green lights on our building are lit at this time in remembrance of all who have lost their lives or been harmed in anyway by such hatred.
If you’ve been watching the news these past couple weeks, no doubt you will have heard about the cardiac arrest that 24-year-old Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills football team suffered after receiving a blow to the chest by a team member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Aware that a serious injury had occurred, a group of players and staff knelt in prayer around Damar as medics worked with him until an ambulance arrived to transport him to a nearby hospital.
As Hamlin lay in a coma, the world watched as sports fans and people around the globe prayed for his recovery. The media announced that staff and students at Pittsburgh’s Catholic High School, from where Hamlin graduated in 2016, prayed throughout those early days. An evening prayer vigil was held at the school as the medical crisis unfolded.
““If we didn’t believe that prayer (works), we wouldn’t ask this of you, God,” Orlovsky said in the prayer. “I believe in prayer. We believe in prayer. We lift up Damar Hamlin’s name in Your name.””
'God Using Me in a Different Way': Damar Hamlin Tweets His Faith as Entire NFL Teams Bow in Prayer
As the days passed, more and more people joined their hearts and voices in prayer as Damar began his slow but remarkable recovery. The now famous footballer, a man of faith, was loud in his praise and thanksgiving to God, the attentive doctors, and medical staff for helping him to stay alive. Newspapers even reported on the healing power of prayer and faith.
Now, as Hamlin continues his recovery, our society is beginning to reflect on the power of prayer in healing. This was evidenced in the faith of Damar, his family, friends, teachers, and countless others placing their trust in God’s love. Many people already experience the gift of faith in their lives and the power of prayer to uplift and sustain, especially in times of crisis. At this time in history, with global fanaticism about sports, Hamlin’s cardiac arrest caused citizens to pause and witness faith-filled athletes and people turn en masse at the encouragement of Damar himself, and storm heaven for divine assistance.
“There is power in prayer.”
God’s grace and help are with us at every moment. All we need to do is acknowledge it and lean on each other for support. I’m sure that’s why the phone in our home rings often with people requesting our prayers for various needs. There is power in prayer, especially where two or three are gathered. Go Bills!
-Sister Jean Moylan, CSJ
2023 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18 – 25
Theme: Do good; seek justice
A sudden reversal - a young mother, a PSW in Toronto, was nearly separated from her child, until she went public about her possible deportation and garnered a multitude of supporters. Today, January 7, Faftumah Najjuma has won her right for permanent residency in Canada. Such good news not only for this little family but for the energy rallying for systemic change.
Do good; seek justice - These basic values and actions are essential in all human relationships.
Christians who may have signed Faftumah’s petition or stood strong with her cause can’t be identified in the crowd or on the petition. But standing with and seeking justice are essential to the gospel of Jesus.
“standing with and seeking justice are essential to the gospel of Jesus. ”
From January 18 – 25 we will be praying for Christian unity and reflecting on the theme: Do good; seek justice. We may routinely align with a specific faith community, sometimes follow different liturgical calendars, or find our preference in different styles of Christian music, but our common call is the gospel. May the intention of this week of focused prayer move us locally to seek together the ways of justice.
“God is leading us in the path of unity through our acts of justice”
A perusal of websites of our denominational churches shows how God is leading us in the path of unity through our acts of justice. Let’s celebrate this spark of light, knowing that the long haul of unity is graced with the many steps of collaboration.
Sister Loretta Manzara, CSJ
