Bishop Nelson Perez led an interfaith prayer service on April 28 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Cleveland to remember the victims of the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka one week earlier.
The service was expanded to include those killed and wounded in a shooting at a Jewish synagogue in Poway, California on April 27.
“Welcome to all and to those of other faiths gathered here tonight,” the bishop said. “It is our privilege to have representatives of the local Sri Lankan community with us tonight so we can share our thoughts with them.”
Fifteen religious leaders representing a variety of faiths sat in a semi-circle in front of the altar. More than 100 people gathered at the cathedral for the 7:30 p.m. prayer service.
During the entrance procession, members of the Sri Lankan and Jewish communities carried lighted votive candles representing the victims and photos of the places where the bombings and shootings occurred. They were placed in a display on the side of the altar on a pale blue sari -- along with a vase of flowers -- to honor the victims.
Members of Greater Cleveland’s Sri Lankan community sat together in the front of the cathedral. Most were dressed in white, which is a color of mourning for some Asian cultures.
Bishop Perez welcomed all to the interfaith service, which he said was a sign of “solidarity and respect for our brothers and sisters of other faiths.”
The event was to remember the nearly 300 people killed and about 500 injured in the Easter bombings of three churches – two Catholic and one Christian charismatic -- and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. The victims in the churches were attending Mass or Easter services and some were preparing to receive their First Communion.
However, Bishop Perez said the scope of the prayer service expanded after a shooting the previous day at Congregation Shabad, a Jewish synagogue in Poway, California, just north of San Diego. One woman was killed and several others, including the rabbi, were injured.
“And just a short time ago, I learned of another shooting with at least one person dead near a church in Baltimore,” the bishop said.
A representative of the Sri Lankan community read from the Book of Wisdom, which was followed by a responsorial psalm. After that, representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim communities offered comments and reflections on the recent events. Ten members of the Sri Lankan Choir of Greater Cleveland provided a musical reflect between the faith reflections.
Dr. Pasan Wanigarathne of the Buddhist Sinhala Community talked about caring for flower beds in our yards and how we won’t see their beauty without care. The same is true of life, he said, urging that all beings be free from fear, be free and live in peace. The choral reflection that followed was “When love is there, God is there with us.”
Dr. Ramswamy Sharma, priest-manager of the Shiva-Vishnu Temple, intoned an ancient prayer asking that all be free from sorrow, sadness and suffering and relieved of burdens to trust in immortal life. “In your embrace, God, we find our peace,” was the choral reflection.
Rabbi Stephen Weiss, senior rabbi, B’nai Jeshurum Synagogue, expressed sympathy and concern for the Sri Lankan community on behalf of the Jewish community. “Each soul was precious to their family and their community. They were gathered in prayer in what should have been the safest place,” he said, adding that Jews know what it’s like to be unsafe in a place of worship. He called attacks like these “a terrible cancer that permeates our society. Our hearts are torn open. All we can do is hold on to each other, grieve, cry together and draw strength and hope from each other.” The choral reflection was “God you go before us carrying our pain.”
Dr. Zeki Saritoprak of John Carroll University, representing the Muslim community, said Satan took a group of people to use for evil actions, referring to the atrocities that occurred in Sri Lanka, Poway and elsewhere. But he urged that we not allow the work of Satan to separate us. “We must unite and work to bring peace,” he said, adding, “love, compassion and peace are beautiful.” The choral reflection was “Let us live together bringing love to our world.”
The Very Rev. Remus Grama of St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, read from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which was followed by prayers of intercession.
The Rev. Sharon Core, general presbyter, Presbytery of the Western Reserve, prayed for those who mourn the loss of a loved one and the Very Rev. Hratch Sargsyan of Narek, Armenian Apostolic Church, prayed for the deceased.
Dr. Steve Bailey, district superintendent, United Methodist Church, East Ohio Conference, prayed for the people of Sri Lanka and Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Allende, North East Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, prayed for the Christian community of Sri Lanka.
The Rev. Michael Anthony Howard, United Church of Christ, prayed for the nations of the world and an end to violence in our communities.
Bishop Perez led the congregation in reciting The Lord’s Prayer. He also shared sympathy and concern from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, who was unable to attend.
In his closing remarks, the bishop recalled visiting the site of the Twin Towers in New York City after the 9/11 attacks for a memorial service. He called the area “a shrine to the living spirit of people who would not allow hatred to overcome love.” At the end of the service, he said it was very emotional when a group of children sang “Let There be Peace on Earth.”
He stressed the importance of respect for freedom of conscience and said the best thing we can do “is to let peace begin with us -- and let it begin tonight,” as he invited all to share a sign of peace.
The bishop then asked all assembled faith leaders to join him in extending their hands in blessing over the congregation before they processed out of the cathedral.
The service concluded with everyone singing “The Prayer of St. Francis.”
Remembered at the service were the people killed and injured on Easter at St. Sebastian (Catholic) Church in Necomobo, Sri Lanka; St. Anthony’s (Catholic) Shrine, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Zion (charismatic) Church, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka; The Kingsbury, Shangri-La and Cinnamon Grand Hotels and Tropical Inn in Sri Lanka and the Chabad of Poway Synagogue, as well as the 50 killed and 50 injured in attacks on two mosques on March 15 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the 11 killed and seven injured six months ago in the shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The service was coordinated by Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND secretary for parish life and development in the Diocese of Cleveland, and Father Joe Hilinski, pastor of St. Barbara Church in Cleveland and diocesan delegate for ecumenical and interfaith affairs.