Local

Raising prayers, voices for racial healing

Meredith Husar | Catholic Herald

The altar at “A Prayer Service for Peace, Reconciliation and Racial Healing” at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington July 18.

1469640011_78ad.jpg

Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington recently held “A
Prayer Service for Peace, Reconciliation and Racial Healing.”
The service was organized to offer an opportunity for the
community to collectively raise their voices and express
“sorrow and pain at all the racially motivated violence in
our country,” said Father Tim Hickey, pastor.

As a historically black parish, Father Hickey said it is very
important for the church community to engage in conversations
about structural racism, and to “be a support for our
African-American sisters and brothers who are very much under
siege in many ways.”

In his homilies over the past few weeks, Father Hickey has
encouraged everyone to have “at least one significant
conversation about racism in America with their co-workers,
family members and neighbors.”

The service was primarily in response to the recent shooting
deaths of African-American men Alton Sterling and Philando
Castile, as well as five police officers in Dallas and three
in Baton Rouge, La.

“We felt we needed to come together just around that,” Father
Hickey said.

The intent was to provide a “safe space” for people to come
together to express their prayers and concerns and “raise
them up together to God.”

Approximately 125 people attended the prayer service, some
traveling from parishes in Washington. It lasted about 40
minutes, and upon its conclusion, participants were invited
to stay in silent prayer. Father Hickey said more than 50
people remained in prayer “for quite some time after the
official service ended.”

The church has held similar services in response to other
tragedies in the past, and Father Hickey said they are
looking to offer future services on the topics of racial
injustice and violence.

Husar can be reached at [email protected].

Related Articles