June 14, 2016
There are no words adequate to express our sadness for the terror and violence that took place early Sunday morning in Orlando, Florida, at the Pulse nightclub — except to say that it was horrific.
The Paulist Fathers join with all who are praying for the repose of the souls of those who died. Grant them eternal rest, O Lord.
We pray for each of these men and women by name:
Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Amanda Alvear, 25
Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Antonio Davon Brown, 29
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Cory James Connell, 21
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
Frank Hernandez, 27
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25
Kimberly Morris, 37
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Martin Benitez Torres, 33
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
As we look at the names of these men and women, we seek to recall that many likely were the children or grandchildren of immigrants from Puerto Rico, Cuba or elsewhere — or perhaps were themselves immigrants — and many likely were among the baptized of the Church.
Also, as we pray name by name, we seek to recall that many of these men and women where gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, or allies of the LGBT community.
We celebrate the lives of these men and women as whole persons, glossing over no part of their identities.
We pray, too, for the loved ones of the dead — family members and friends alike. May God hold them close in the incredibly hard days, months and years ahead. May they somehow find peace of heart and mind and, eventually, the grace to forgive.
We pray for the 53 people injured in the shooting. We pray for their healing, mindful that not all of the injuries and trauma they have suffered may immediately be visible.
We pray for all those impacted by this tragedy: for the LGBT community in Orlando and around the nation; for the people of Orlando and the surrounding area; for the police officers who responded to the scene; and for the medical personnel. May God bless them and give them strength.
We pray for our nation and our world. May all of us — elected officials, clergy, community activists and all people — be granted the wisdom to know how to respond to this tragedy on a person-to-person basis and as a matter of public policy.
We pray that God will bless all efforts for interfaith dialogue so that the Children of Abraham — Jews, Christians and Muslims — may walk the road of peace together.
Finally, we plead to God to show us the way to reach out to any man or woman contemplating any kind of violence in the future. May the peace of God reach their hearts and minds before they kill or harm anyone.
God, we plead for you to show us the ways to end terrorism and eliminate the horror of gun violence.
God, grant us peace in our day.
Fr. Eric Andrews, C.S.P., is president of the Paulist Fathers.