Recently I had the opportunity to attend a Taizé service held monthly to remember the hundreds of children in Chicago killed through violence. To help heal the community from this on-going violence, a friend of mine is involved with the Hyde Park Union Church. Together they have created the Urban Dolorosa, an ecumenical movement in Chicago.
“Urban Dolorosa is a ministry of Hyde Park Union Church and a growing network of churches, faith congregations, community groups, artists, and concerned citizens. We are a multicultural, ecumenical, and interfaith witness – calling the city to notice this crisis of violence and to respond by supporting peace-making efforts in our neighborhoods. Here’s some of the story of how we began and what we hope to accomplish through our memorial events.
Urban Dolorosa is a diverse multicultural movement. We are committed to stand alongside the neighborhoods in our city that have been devastated by violence. Anyone is welcome to join with us in this movement, to remember the lost and living children of our city, to stand and pray alongside the communities devastated by this violence, and to support our campaign to awaken a more committed and compassionate response in our city.”
Just one more example that we as individuals, with just our very presence, can profoundly change our own communities and even our society. We are the 99%.
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