Bishop Garcia responds to this weekend's violent attacks

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During this holy season of Advent, as we prepare for the birth of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, we do so with heavy hearts as we confront the unimaginable loss of human life that occurred this weekend at Brown University and at a Jewish Community Center in Australia. Let us journey with our brothers and sisters as together we grieve the loss of 17 precious lives and support those who now face the long path of recovery from their wounds.

Each life lost held sacred purpose for their families, their communities, and for all humankind. May we remember that no act of violence can ever erase the dignity of each individual; grief reminds us of how deeply connected we are to one another and how fragile the gift of life truly is.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may we, the living, honor their memory by choosing empathy over hatred and unity over division. In our shared mourning, let us turn to the God of Peace inviting Him into our hearts so these acts of violence may end.