Air crash tragedy calls for prayer, Lexington bishop says at service

Published: 2006-08-30

LEXINGTON, Ky. (CNS) -- Tragedy pierces people's illusion of invulnerability and moves them to look for the "unchangeable" and to prayer, said Lexington Bishop Ronald W. Gainer during a prayer service for the victims and families of Comair Flight 5191 and for the entire community. The evening service in the Cathedral of Christ the King Aug. 29 drew about 700 people. It was the first public service in which members of the families of victims of the Aug. 27 crash were present. Two of the crash victims, Pat Smith, 58, and Gregory Threet, 35,were members of the cathedral parish. A third, Marcie Thomason, 25, of Washington, was the niece of cathedral parishioners John and Monica Hinkel, who participated in the service. Lexington Mayor Teresa Isaac also was present. The "whole world can change in 15 seconds," the bishop said, and "there is no shortcut through this suffering ... no effective quick fix" for the pain. "This tragedy calls us to pray," he said.

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