La Salle holds prayer service for shooting victims
TROY, N.Y. » La Salle Institute held a student prayer service Wednesday morning in remembrance of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting victims. The service was in solidarity with the students taking part in planned walkouts Wednesday across the country.
Led by Campus Minister Ted Deeb, students prayed for the lives that were lost in the shooting and for an end to that kind of tragedy in the future.
Deeb, who graduated from La Salle in 2001, said the school community aims to foster love and respect between students so that each student will recognize his classmate as not only his classmate, but as his brother as well.
“They are connected to the students of Parkland in a powerful way,” said Deeb. “We are all brothers and sisters. What happens to one person in the family happens to all of us.”
Assistant Principal Matthew Michaud spoke of the horrific events that took place in the Florida shooting. He said there is a light to be found amidst all the darkness, and students are called to work for change.
“As Cadets we are called to reject the violence that is being perpetrated on students, to love instead of hate, and to forgive instead of harboring anger,” said Michaud.
La Salle Cadets lit 17 candles and stood in remem-
brance of the 17 victims of the Florida shooting. A moment of silence followed after the Cadets blew out the candles. La Salle students bowed their heads in respect for the victims and families that have been affected by school shootings across the country.
Student John Gordon said the Florida shooting has had an effect on schools everywhere, and that we all can do something little to make a change.
“It has impacted people around the world,” said Gordon. “We can all help in a small way.”
The service concluded with a Gospel reading and an encouragement by Deeb for students to be people of hope. Deeb said we can cre-
ate an environment where people in schools feel safe and loved.
“If young people feel that they matter, we won’t be having the violence that we have in schools,” said Deeb.