Dear Mercy Family,
We grieve together with the students and families of Michigan State University. Yesterday’s unimaginable shooting impacts our entire Mercy community and many of us have loving connections to those at MSU. We hold in our hearts the students, staff, families, friends, first responders and Mercy alumnae who are Spartans. Such violence affects our schools, communities and us as individuals.
As you process the MSU tragedy, you will experience complicated feelings. We encourage each Mercy community member to engage with those feelings as we allow one another time, space, and understanding. Additional help is at hand, and please do not hesitate to seek needed support.
The Counseling Department is available for individual or small group walk-in student needs. Today and tomorrow, a Counselor will also be present in the Counseling Conference Room for those who wish to seek comfort with a larger group, or those needing a quiet space.
The American Psychological Association has compiled a list of materials here to help and additional sources of information include:
Remember the healing power of prayer. Our Chapel is available for anyone in our Mercy community who needs a sacred place to pray, reflect, or sit. We invite you to come and light a candle in remembrance of the victims and in support for all those suffering.
You are invited to join in tomorrow’s Rosary in the Chapel at 7:25 am for the MSU community.
The Mercy Student Council Leaders are working on ideas to support our student body, and our Mercy current Spartans and MSU alumnae.
Let us join together in prayer as one Mercy family for the entire Michigan State community.
God, we aren’t sure how much more of this we can take.
How long, O Lord, until the shooting ends? Until the violence ceases?
We know that our Catholic faith teaches us to turn to you Lord in all things…
And yet, prayers seem insufficient when there is endless and senseless violence.
It’s hard to think about love and Valentine’s candies on a day like today.
The words “love is patient, love is kind,” fall flat on a day like today.
Wrap us in your loving embrace.
Hold us, God.
We hold in our hearts
All who are hurting this morning.
All who were desperately trying to contact loved ones early this morning.
All who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
All who are angry.
All who feel the weight of another mass shooting.
Jesus, our healer, Pray for us.
Our Lady of Mercy, our Patroness, Pray for us.
Venerable Catherine McAuley, Pray for us.
Amen.
In Mercy,
Mercy High School Administration, Counseling, and Campus Ministry
