• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
A mask seen near a New York City cemetery May 27, 2020, honors those who have died from the coronavirus disease. (CNS photo/Brendan McDermid, Reuters)

Faith leaders call for ‘Day of Mourning and Lament’ for victims of virus

May 28, 2020
By Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, World News

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

SILVER SPRING, Md. (CNS) — The Leadership Conference of Women Religious said May 27 it will join a group of over 100 national faith leaders — from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions — who have called for a National Day of Mourning and Lament June 1 for those who have died from COVID-19.

The group is urging federal, state and local elected officials to observe the day as well, which will be marked by marked by moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells and civic memorials.

LCWR, based in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, said it asked its more than 1,300 members to invite the more than 40,000 Catholic sisters they represent to participate “in these actions of grieving and lament.”

“The lament will also acknowledge the hard truth this country has learned during this pandemic — that suffering has been unequal,” LCWR said in statement. “Elders, black and brown neighbors, native communities, refugees and immigrants have borne disproportionately the brunt of sickness and death.

“The faith leaders underscore that the healing of the nation must face the brokenness of its democracy as they call for the repair of the injustices this pandemic has revealed.”

Each faith tradition will incorporate “an action of lament” into its traditional services. “Together these faith traditions will name, honor and offer tributes to the lives, families and communities of those who have died,” LCWR said.

For Christians, it will be during Pentecost Sunday May 31, which commemorates “when the first Christians were given courage through the reception of the Holy Spirit.”

On May 29, with Ramadan finished, Muslims will remember the reception of the Quran. On May 29 and May 30, Jews will remember God’s covenant as they celebrate Shavuot and read their Yizkhor, or remembrance, prayers.

“We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers from so many faith traditions as we not only honor those who have lost their lives in the pandemic, but also call for the country to examine the injustices and inequities so starkly shown to us through this crisis,” said Sister Carol Zinn, a Sister of St. Joseph, who is executive director of LCWR.

“This pandemic must become a wake-up call that drives us to work at every level of society to change the structures that allow these inequities to persist,” she said in a statement. “We are encouraging all Catholic sisters to participate in this act of prayer and solidarity.”

The faith leaders also asked that at noon local time June 1, “the country pause once more to remember those who have died.”

The June 1 observance is being supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents more than 1,400 mayors across the country, LCWR said.

In the United States, the death toll from COVID had reached 102,391, as of May 28.

President Donald Trump said the U.S. had reached a “very sad milestone” in exceeding 100,000 deaths and tweeted: “To all of the families and friends of those who have passed, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy and love for everything that these great people stood for and represent. God be with you!”

Earlier he had ordered flags on federal buildings and national monuments to be flown at half-staff May 22-25 “in memory of the Americans we have lost to the coronavirus.”

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Catholic News Service

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Religious sisters played role in pope’s formation in grade school, N.J. province discovers

  • With an Augustinian in chair of St. Peter, order sees growing interest in vocations

  • Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

  • The Spirit leads – and Father Romano follows – to Mount St. Mary’s 

  • Communicate hope with gentleness

| Latest Local News |

Words spell success for archdiocesan students

Maryland bishops call for ‘prophetic voice’ in  pastoral letter on AI

Babe Ruth’s legacy continues to grace Archdiocese of Baltimore

St. Frances Academy plans to welcome middle schoolers

Baltimore Mass to celebrate local charities in time of perilous cuts

| Latest World News |

Inspired by millennial soon-to-be-saint, Irish teens created animated Lego-Carlo Acutis film

Villanova athletes inspired that pope keeps tabs on how his alma mater’s teams fare

Guide to the ecumenical councils of the church

Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo

Fathers of the Church: The Latin (or Western) Fathers

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Come, Holy Spirit: A Pentecost Reflection
  • Inspired by millennial soon-to-be-saint, Irish teens created animated Lego-Carlo Acutis film
  • Villanova athletes inspired that pope keeps tabs on how his alma mater’s teams fare
  • Guide to the ecumenical councils of the church
  • Fathers of the Church: The Latin (or Western) Fathers
  • Indiana Catholic shares story of his life-changing bond with friend who is now Pope Leo
  • The Acts of the Apostles and ‘The Amazing Race’
  • St. Athanasius, staunch defender of truth at Nicaea and beyond
  • Words spell success for archdiocesan students

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en