Prayer, Solidarity, Love Overcomes Hate in Community in Response to Pittsburgh Massacre, Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

The world is in shock at the horror of the massacre of 11 members of New Life Congregation in Pittsburgh. The solidarity of people of all faiths and no faith with the victims and survivors of this act of terror testifies that love will always triumph over hate. We in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests join our prayers with all who gather for the prayer vigil in Pittsburgh this night and in the days ahead  to remember the victims and grieve their violent passing. We pray for comfort,  and strength for the Jewish Community and for all who have been victims of hate crimes and acts of terror in our country and in our world. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https:arcwp.org
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting.html

PITTSBURGH — As gunfire shattered the prayerful morning stillness of the Tree of Life synagogue, Barry Werber was hiding in a darkened storage room. In front of him was Melvin Wax, a longtime member of the New Life Congregation whose body now lay on the floor. Then a man stepped through a swinging door into the room.

Mr. Werber saw that he was carrying a long gun.

“He walks in,” Mr. Werber said of the killer. “He steps over Mel’s body.”

The man seemed to look around for a brief moment, but couldn’t seem to see in the darkness. He walked back out.

Mr. Werber escaped with his life. But 11 others in the synagogue on Wilkins Avenue on Saturday morning did not. The massacre unfolded over about an hour in individual acts of endurance and courage — Mr. Werber holding his breath in the darkness, police officers who rushed in while the gunfire was still raging to confront the killer, congregants who put aside their terror to help one another..."

Mourners gather in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh for a vigil.(Photo: SARA C. TOBIAS, Newark Advocate via USA TODAY Network)