Message from Executive Council on Uvalde

We once again are called to mourn the tragic and senseless loss of life due to a mass shooting. This time, we mourn the unbearable loss of 19 children and 2 adults who were gunned down yesterday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

As we pray for the victims of yet another devastating act of gun violence, let us also raise our voices to bring an end to the all-too-common loss of life in our schools, our houses of worship, our supermarkets, and so many other places that should be free of such destruction.

In the word of the Sisters of Mercy: "God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation has caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the God who desires that we live together in peace."

As our theme for the 2022-2023 academic year is “United in Mercy: Nonviolence Begins With Me,” we invite each member of our community to reflect on what you can do to promote nonviolence.

In Mercy,
Executive Council