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MESA Flash
October 3, 2017 
Dear Mercy Advocates for Non-Violence:

Yesterday, the Sisters of Mercy issued a call to prayer https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/Xww7yEvSyH4rgMQOKWggwA for the victims and families of the mass shooting in Las Vegas this past weekend.
Now we have the opportunity to join grieving families in Las Vegas and in Newtown, CT, in candlelight vigils tomorrow during the National Day of Action to Send #LovetoLasVegas. Convents, schools, ministries and places of worship around the country can participate with a simple ritual to honor the 59 killed and 527 injured in the deadliest mass shooting incident in U.S. history and to pray for a shift toward a culture of nonviolence.

You may find a sample prayer here https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/eXEcZK5qomt3hFKc9136yg. Please send photos of your vigil to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected].

Knowing that prayer is important, but action is also needed, we ask you also to contact your legislators https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/Soe-c86O2Xh1rZxee4MPiA and demand that they take action to reduce the frequency of these horrific attacks. Sensible measures include passing laws to require background checks for sale of all guns; banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines; and adequately funding federal gun violence research.

As Mercy, we know that we must also continue to work to cultivate a culture of nonviolence in our own personal and community lives for long term changes.

Thank you for your prayers and action on behalf of the growing list of victims of mass shootings and the daily gun violence in our communities,

Sisters of Mercy's Institute Justice Team

Demand Gun Violence Prevention Measures https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/IDYSWCvA9E0lkXY02yta9Q>

Pray for Victims of the Mass Shooting in Las Vegas
MESA joins the Sisters of Mercy in prayer for the victims and families of the mass shooting in Las Vegas this weekend. Once again, this tragedy confronts us with violence made deadly by access to assault weapons.
We lament that the litany of horrific tragedies grows ever longer, requiring yet another calling forth for a culture of nonviolence. Orlando, Charleston, San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, to name just a few – as well as the daily gun violence in our communities – all weigh heavy on our hearts.

We join in prayer as a way to ask our God, “How do I respond?”

Our God calls on us to comfort those whose hearts and spirits are broken. God calls us to love our neighbors. God calls us to respond with love to hate and fear. How will each one of us answer this call to encourage the healing we so desperately need?
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