National Day of Prayer service

PORTLAND — The National Day of Prayer Ecumenical Service at the Church of St. Mary, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 7, will be held Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Guest speaker Dana Chapman will discuss a mission to stop veteran suicides.

The National Day of Prayer is held each year on the first Thursday in May, and is designated by the U.S. Congress. People of all faiths are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Each year since its inception, the President has signed a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray for our country on this day.

Since 2015, the Parish of St. Mary Portland, and the Knights of Columbus Council 7 have hosted a National Day of Prayer Ecumenical Prayer Service, encouraging people of all faiths to attend. Along with prayer and song, the service also features a guest speaker who is passionate about working to change a serious social problem that our state and nation face.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dana Chapman from Suffield. “Dana is a mother on a mission to stop veteran suicides. Dana’s son William, at the age of 18 enlisted in the Army National Guard where he served for 6 years. William spent one year of combat duty in Afghanistan. Upon his return to the United States, William was being treated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to his emotional wounds endured from Afghanistan. Tragically in January of 2017, 4 months after leaving military service, William ended his life by suicide,” according to a release.

Chapman has established the nonprofit Will Power for Veteran Fund with the goal of fund raising to build a retreat and healing center for veterans and first responders; learn more at www.willingnesstochange22.com. Donations collected at the day of prayer will be donated to this fund.