I have been watching the news watching the news in horror as at least 6 are dead and many more were wounded after a gunman opened fire as families attended an Independence Day parade in Highland Park. What should have been a peaceful celebration of our nation’s founding ended in unspeakable tragedy.
Please join me in praying for the victims and their loved ones, who never imagined a July 4 celebration could become a killing ground. Pray too for the safety of first responders as they pursue the person responsible for this tragedy. They bravely rushed into the danger to treat victims and to protect others from harm. 

The parade reportedly had a heavy presence of police and fire vehicles, yet this shooter was able to wound at least two dozen people before he stopped, or was stopped, and fled. Victims ranged in age from 8 to 85. Weapons designed to rapidly destroy human bodies have no place in civil society.

It is barely July, and this year the United States is already experiencing more than one mass shooting a day. Chicago Police reported at least 55 shot and 7 killed since Friday, and the holiday weekend is not yet over. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for U.S. children.

Whatever one makes of the right to bear arms, there is plenty of room for prudential judgment in interpreting the Second Amendment so as to enact serious, broadly popular gun-safety measures. The Senate finally passed a significant, yet modest, gun-safety bill last month. But clearly more must be done. 

The right to bear arms does not eclipse the right to life, or the right of all Americans to go about their lives free of the fear that they might be shredded by bullets at any moment. Gun violence is a life issue. We must continue to pray that all our officials, elected and unelected alike, will redouble their commitment to keeping safe the people they have sworn to serve.

Pope Francis wrote to the people of Chicagoland in 2016: “As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, humanity ‘must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.’ I urge all people, especially young men and women, to respond to Dr. King's prophetic words and know that a culture of nonviolence is not an unattainable dream, but a path that has produced decisive results.”

May the Lord of mercy embrace in love those who have died, bring healing to the wounded, comfort to their loved ones, and courage to all of us, so that we may respond to this tragedy united as God’s children to build a path to safety and peace.

The phrase “sing to the Lord” appears more than 300 times in the Scripture. Sung praise seems to be God’s favorite form of prayer, for the Bible instructs us to sing to the Lord, “come into God’s presence with singing; make melody to the Lord; sing to the Lord a new song, and enter God’s court in songs.” God loves music, and He loves to hear us sing.

As we all are called to discipleship let us offer our God-given voice to pray and sing praise to our loving God, His favorite form of prayer. We are inviting everyone dedicated to being a part of our Music Ministry to lead the faithful in singing praise and worship to God for our 9 a.m. Mass at our Blessed Stepinac worship site, for the 1^st Friday at 7 pm. Mass at our Holy Child Jesus Parish or to be a part of the Filipino choir to lead in songs and prayers for our Filipino Mass celebrations.

The famous quote attributed to St. Augustine is, “Singing is praying twice.” What better way to help lead the lay faithful during Mass in raising our voices in prayers by singing in the choir.

For anyone who is interested or would like more information, please email Ian Noel Camilotes at icamilotes@archchicago.org or speak to him after those masses.

Holy Trinity (Railways) Parish's church was built in 1958 and holds 350 people. The community has grown to over 2,000 members and many people must stand outside to attend Mass. Others cannot attend at all because of the lack of space and seating.

The community has been raising funds locally.
The foundation is nearly completed and the parish is ready to continue construction. 

The Holy Spirit calls upon us to help our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Please be as generous as you can so that the people of Holy Trinity Parish in Zambia can participate fully at Mass and enjoy the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.