Harrisburg Catholics unite in prayer for Amish community

Published: 2006-10-06

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CNS) -- In a demonstration of support for the local Amish community, Catholics in the Harrisburg Diocese filled St. Catherine of Siena Church in Quarryville and the Cardinal Keeler Center in Harrisburg Oct. 5 for prayer three days after the shootings at the Amish schoolhouse. The Mass at St. Catherine's and the prayer service at the Keeler Center took place the same day the Amish community buried four of the girls shot in the schoolhouse. St. Catherine of Siena Church is located just seven miles from the scene of the tragedy. The Oct. 5 Mass was celebrated by Harrisburg Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades and concelebrated by several diocesan priests. It drew an overflow crowd. "As a Catholic community of faith, we pray for our beloved Amish neighbors, our brothers and sisters in the Christian faith. We pray for the children who have died, so precious in the sight of the Lord," Bishop Rhoades said, praying also for the girls who remained hospitalized, for the victims' families, and for Roberts and his family.

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