ARTICLES

Appomattox prayer service held to seek healing

By Steve Neill
of The Catholic Virginian

”Heal us, Lord, from Violence.”

These words formed the theme of a prayer service at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Appomattox to bring healing to members of the community after the murders of eight people in Appomattox three days earlier.

Father James Gallagher, pastor, had planned to participate in the national March for Life in Washington the day of the prayer service, but felt it was more important to stay home in light of the deaths of the eight victims and to show support for their families.

“Our people were upset,” Father Gallagher told The Catholic Virginian. “They knew the victims, especially the three high school kids.”

Father Gallagher got up early that Friday and celebrated Mass at 6 a.m. for parishioners who were preparing to head for Washington for the March for Life.

He said that the decision to organize the Friday night prayer services was “sort of spur of the moment.”

“When I heard of the deaths, I remembered that my people are always encouraging me to be more a part of the larger Appomattox community,” he said.

Soon after the shooting victims were discovered, the priest contacted parishioners who are teachers at the public high school in Appomattox. He had also contacted school officials and offered to speak to the students in light of the tragedy. Officials told him that professional counselors were going to speak to young people who felt a need to talk about how the situation affected them.

“We have Cindy Thomas, a counselor at the school, who is a parishioner of St. Victoria in Hurt,” Father Gallagher said.

“I contacted her and also Jackie Johnson, a teacher and a member of Our Lady of Peace in case they felt they needed to talk and I also asked them to keep an eye out for our Catholic kids if they needed me,” he added.

At the prayer service eight candles were lit, one for each person who had died. In the congregation were 16 high school youths.

“Some were Methodist, some were Baptist,” Father Gallagher said. “That night it was the only service happening.”

Father Gallagher’s message was one of hope. But he also encouraged those present to stand up to violence and to reclaim Appomattox County for good in the face of the tragic killings.

“In the death of Jesus, death did not have the last word,” he said. “And in the deaths of these fallen angels, death will not have the last word.”

Prayers of the faithful were said with the invitation for anyone to speak their prayers aloud for the victims, their families and those in law enforcement. The response was “Wounded Healer, hear us!”

The eight people allegedly killed by Christopher Speight were Morgan Dobyns, 15; Emily Quarles, 15; Jonathan Quarles, 43; Karen Quarles, 43; Ronald Scruggs, 16; Dwayne Sipe, 38; Joshua Sipe, 4; and Lauralee Sipe, 38.

Father Gallagher is making sure the victims are not forgotten.

“The high school students and middle school students at Our Lady of Peace will plant a memorial garden on the church grounds in the spring,” he said.

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