Providence Catholic Students Pray Instead of Walking Out In Protest

(NEW LENOX) For 17 minutes starting at 10:00 a.m., across each time zone, students, faculty and supporters nationwide walked out of their schools to honor those killed in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida 

Instead of walking out, Providence Catholic High School students walked to the school’s gymnasium for a prayer service for peace and healing to honor the victims of school violence and their families. The idea of the service came from the school’s student council and administration.

School President, Fr. John Merkelis, OSA explained, “this was a way for the student body and our school community to come together and honor, with the power of prayer, the ones who lost their lives.”  Merkelis led the Prayer Service for the victims to “mourn their loss, and pray for guidance as we continue to seek a way to live in peace with one another.”

Student leaders with candles led the student body from their classrooms in silence into the prayer service.  Students and staff members processed into the gym holding candles that represented the students and teachers who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.  A candle was placed on the altar as each of the seventeen victim’s names were read and a moment of silence was observed.”

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Kathleen Kennedy

Director of Communications