Atlantans gathered in churches and parks Sunday to pray for the lives lost in the Connecticut massacre and for a nation stunned by the incomprehensible tragedy.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory encouraged parishioners to include in their prayers the families and parents of the victims of the Newtown school shooting. He spoke during Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta during a service that caters to young families with small children.
“We ask that the Father who chose to give us His Son born as a poor infant in Bethlehem will also give those people comfort, solace and faith at this time of incredible sorrow,” the archbishop said.
“We pray for our nation that once again has been stunned by senseless violence. (And pray it) will resolve to take those steps that will safeguard all of us in the future so that the respect and dignity of each person – no matter what their age or circumstance – will be secured,” Gregory said.
As he spoke, the high-pitched squeals and whimpers of children filled the room. Many of the little ones were not much younger than the 20 children who died at Sandy Hook Elementary.
While many services and ceremonies focused on the children who perished, the rampage also took the lives of the school principal, psychologist and four teachers who tried to protect students.
To recognize their sacrifice, Pastor Frank Cox at North Metro Baptist Church in Lawrenceville prayed over all of the educators in the audience.
Comfort was also found outside of local houses of worship. Several people gathered at Freedom Park in Atlanta to show solidarity with those mourning in Newtown and across the country.
Bilal Sarwari organized the gathering event at the intersection of Freedom Parkway and Moreland Avenue to channel the devastation and helplessness he felt. He promoted it over Twitter using the hashtag #NewtownATL.
The event was a way to show that Atlanta cares and for everyone to embrace their sadness and one another, Sarwari said.
A couple of people carried signs, using just a few words to capture what many felt. “Our hearts, too, are broken,” one read.
Later Sunday afternoon, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church planned a prayer vigil for the victims of the shooting.
Rev. Michael Sullivan said the church considers it part of its responsibility to honor all holy innocents who die at the hands of violence. The church maintains a chest that includes the names of Georgia children who die from violence and on Saturday the names of those killed in the Newtown massacre were added.
“The nation is mourning deeply and we are doing what everyone does in times of grief,” he said. “We are turning toward one another. We are comforting one another.”
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