By Beth Griffin
NEW YORK (CNS) — A candlelight service at St. Francis of Assisi Church Aug. 23 provided uplifting music, quiet prayer and heartfelt petitions for these struggling within the chaos of Haiti and Afghanistan.
The occasion included Scripture, silent reflection, musical response and prayer. Inviting participation, Franciscan Father Tom Gallagher, pastor of St. Francis Assisi, wrote: “We are able to and must ask God to intervene and provides us perception for methods we will reply with the love of Christ.”
Haiti experienced a magnitude 7.2 earthquake Aug. 14 that killed more than 2,200 people and injured at the very least 12,000 others. Practically 53,000 homes had been destroyed, in line with native authorities.
Days later, it was within the path of Tropical Storm Grace that unleashed torrential rains and brought on flash flooding that blocked entry to communities in want. The nation was already reeling from the July 7 assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse.
Afghanistan is in turmoil after the Taliban takeover of the country Aug. 15 and the departure of its president, Ashraf Ghani. After nearly 20 years, the U.S. army withdrew most of its forces by early July, however needed to resend 1000’s of its troops again in a scramble to soundly evacuate American civilians and Afghans who aided the struggle effort by Aug. 31.
The New York church was lit by pillar candles surrounding a painted crucifix that rested on the steps of the sanctuary. Incense wafted up from a shallow bowl.
Meredith Augustin, parish director of music ministries, performed piano and led songs of peace, reward and supplication. She was accompanied by musicians on guitar, drums and organ.
With a transparent give attention to the deteriorating scenario in each nations, Father Gallagher, the presider, prayed: “When all appears darkish, illuminate the world together with your imaginative and prescient of hope, dignity and ample life set for Haiti and Afghanistan from the start of creation.”
“The shadow of the cross has fallen throughout these nations, but for us who consider, the cross is just not loss of life, however resurrection, new life,” he continued.
Father Gallagher urged members to hunt consolation, therapeutic, power and braveness. He invited folks ahead to have their open palms anointed with chrism.
“We come searching for the therapeutic present that’s God,” he mentioned.
One of many readers on the prayer service was Haitian Franciscan Father Abraham Joseph, who was born in Les Cayes, epicenter of the earthquake.
Family within the Chantal neighborhood of Les Cayes informed him a cresting river destroyed the one bridge into the neighborhood, disrupting entry for reduction provides.
Father Joseph informed Catholic Information Service that some folks mistakenly blame Haitians for his or her plight, as in the event that they did one thing to deserve their struggling. That is improper and an injustice, he mentioned.
“All struggling has which means. Just like the struggling servant in Isaiah, by our struggling we feature the struggling of the world,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, Father Joseph mentioned, “We can’t be detached to the struggling of one other.”
“Haitians are resilient and we all know in our hearts we wish good for ourselves and everybody else. We’re preventing the great battle for justice,” he mentioned.
The unhurried tempo and quiet calm of the occasion within the candlelit church had been sometimes interrupted by the muted wails of police sirens out entrance on West thirty first Road responding to the capturing of a bystander at close by Penn Station. The sufferer was hit by a stray bullet and was anticipated to get well.