Vigil Against Violence brings more than 1,000 to cathedral

Lineetra Seward dreams of a day when she can walk around her Baltimore City neighborhood without fear.

In recent years, the junior at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School has lost both a cousin and faculty member at her school to violence.

Lineetra came to Homeland’s Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Jan. 25 to pray with more than 1,000 during a Vigil Against Violence.

“This means a lot to me, to take this back home and to my school to let them know this is our first step,” Lineetra said. “This connects with us.”

In his welcome, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien recounted the story of an elderly city resident who hid in her house as it was ransacked. She prayed the rosary during the ordeal and believes it to be the reason she survived.

“We are gathered together united in our faithfulness and our deep concern for the safety of people like this woman,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “Her story could be much worse and sadly there are much worse stories many families could and do tell.”

Archbishop O’Brien said the impact of violence on the city’s culture could not be understated.

“This is a people issue,” he said. “People are hurting each other.

“As people of faith,” he continued, “we cannot and should not shirk our responsibility to save our sisters and brothers from evil and violence that has them living in fear of dying in vain. We stand with … our partners in this war and it is a war. But instead of guns, we’re going to do it through faith and love and prayer.”

He was surrounded by leaders of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindu religions, as well as representatives of numerous Christian churches.

The vigil’s chief organizers were Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden and Bishop Douglas I. Miles, of the Koinonia Baptist Church in Baltimore.

Miles passionately implored attendees from all faiths present to heed the call of the gospels and bring about peace. Different faiths shared readings and songs from their traditions, finding commonalities in a call for peace.

Bishop Madden offered a closing prayer in which he asked God to put people in position to bring about peace in the city.

“Let us not be faint-hearted,” Bishop Madden prayed. “Let us not be weak when it comes to doing your will. Help us to do your will. We go forth this night, from this holy place, determined to bring your light wherever we go and to whoever we meet.”

As the vigil closed, strangers held hands and sang “We Shall Overcome” in unison.

Loyola Blakefield juniors Michael Smith, Cameron Alexander, Michael DiBiagio and Chris Brown attended the evening, inspired by their course at the Towson school, “Catholic Social Thought,” taught by William Kennedy.

“I didn’t expect to see this many people,” Cameron said. “I expected 200. I couldn’t have imagined this and how strong everyone was talking.”

The students wrote papers on how to address violence affecting children and found the vigil encouraging them to turn their research into action.

Michael Smith admitted it will be a challenge, “but it will be worth it if we’re helping other people. That’s just what we should do.”

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