Behold the Humility of God
April 2, 2021
The Merry (Mary) month of May!
May 7, 2021
Police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter of George Floyd. This landmark decision signifies a shift in the ethos of our society, which has increased and vocally demanded justice for people of color, who we recognize are much more at risk in our current system.
In the wake of this verdict we must first stop and pray – pray for George Floyd, his daughter, his family and his community. We pray for continuing conversation to address: the prejudices inherent in our system; inequities in the treatment of people of color by law enforcement; and inequities in all systems that create and perpetuate fear and unfair treatment. We pray for healing for the African American community so that together we can build a better world for the next generation. We pronounce our commitment and solidarity with you as we work to impact meaningful change.
We pray, too, for Derek Chauvin and his family. We pray that law enforcement officers stand firm in their commitment to protect and serve all people.
As we work to impact change, we pray that both people of color and law enforcement personnel remain protected from daily threats and that they can safely interact with people. We pray that we recognize humanity in all of our interactions and seek understanding and de-escalation as the common goals. Regardless of where we stand politically, we must demonstrate our shared humanity and willingness to improve our communities together.
We understand that many people will be expressing their right to protest in the coming days, however, we urge peaceful demonstrations in the best interest of our world,
The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania are committed to a culture of nonviolence in our daily lives, as active participants in our communities, in response to violence large and small. We pray and work for peace in our world for all people.
Join us and follow examples of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., as we look toward non-violent solutions.
“To be true followers of Jesus today also includes embracing his teaching about nonviolence,” said Pope Francis in 2017.
