Five memorials honoring 260 slain children set to begin today, November 1st
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Clergy issue clarion call for peace
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By Chinta StrausbergÂ
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The first of five candle-light memorials honoring more than 260 Chicago murdered children will be held 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at the Saint Sabina Church, 1210 W. 78th Place, located in the Auburn Gresham community.
The memorials are being hosted by the Urban Dolorosa’s, which means ‘The Sorrowing City.’
Embracing the Urban Dolorosa movement is Saint Sabina and a number of other churches including the Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 So. Woodlawn. Rev. Dr. Kimberly Lymore, associate pastor at Saint Sabina, is urging all to attend this vigil in honor of the murdered children and to join the clarion call for peace.
On Tuesday at Saint Sabina, the Hyde Park Union Church will host an ecumenical and multicultural group of ministers, artists and community leaders who are holding five memorial services during the month of November as “a pilgrimage to mourn with families of the children who were killed over the past three school years,†according to a press release.
Urban Dolorosa is calling on all Chicagoans to “notice our dead and dying children and to work together for peace by joining this memorial pilgrimage and committing to end youth violence in our city.â€
The goals of the Urban Dolorosa are to raise the consciousness of the violence that continues to plague Chicago, to encourage anti-violence discussions, and to organize religious leaders to unite in promoting peace in the city.
Tuesday’s memorial will include the reading of the names of children killed due to violence. Under the artistic direction from Steppenwolf for Young Adults, these memorials will feature:
The world premier of sacred music by South African Composer Vaughn Fayle (OFM), with libretto (lyrics) by Susan Johnson.
It will also include the: award-winning photography by Carlos Javier Ortiz, choral program of Johnson College Prep (Englewood), Youth Choir and Marimba Ensemble of Holy Cross/IHM (Back of the Yards); Dr. Keith Hampton and the Chicago Community Chorus; Soprano soloist Jade Maze and Baritone soloist Khary Laurent; Chamber soloists from North Park University and Spoken Word poetry by Mama Brenda Matthews.
The partners for this event include: CeaseFire Illinois headed by Tio Hardiman, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Johnson College Prep Choral Program, Chicago Community Chorus, Chicago Child Trauma Center, Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation; Too Young To Die Photo Documentary Project; North Park University and Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy.
Included in the Urban Dolorosa organizing team are: Rev. Susan Johnson, senior minister at the Hyde Park Union Church and the author of the Urban Dolorosa libretto, Father Vaughn Fayle, OFM, who is the director of music and Composer-in-Residence at the Hyde Park Union Church; Hallie Gordon, director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults; Dr. Keith Hampton, an accomplished composer, conductor and music educator; Carlos Javier Ortiz, who is working on the Too Young To Die documentary and Dr. Joel Harter, who is the Lilly Pastoral Resident at the Hyde Park Union Church.
Besides Tuesday’s memorial, here is the listing for the others:
Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. (Downtown), First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington.
Thursday, November 3, 2011, at 7 p.m. (West Garfield Park), New Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, 4301 West Washington Blvd., Chicago.
Friday, November 4, 2011, at 7 p.m. (Back of the Yards) Holy Cross/IHM Parish, 4541 S. Wood Street, Chicago and
Sunday, November 6, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. (Hyde Park), the Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 South Woodlawn Avenue.
For more information, click on: www.urbandolorosa.org or go to Facebook.
Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.
