Benedictines for Peace, along with the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Sisters of Mercy, host Take Back the Site Vigils at the location of every homicide in the city of Erie.
We are called to reject violence and resist becoming desensitized to killing. So we join with family members, friends, neighbors, and others at the place where a murder occurred, to pray for peace, to remember the victims and perpetrators in prayer, to recommit ourselves to nonviolence, and to reclaim that physical place as a part of our community, where life and joy can be found. We have held over 150 vigils since 1990.
When gathering in person was unsafe during the COVID-19 pandemic, we offered virtual Take Back the Site Vigils, like the one seen in the video to the left. We are currently able to hold these vigils in person while following CDC guidelines. You are welcome to join us. Find out about any upcoming vigils via our Facebook page or by subscribing to our email list.
If you would like to host Take Back the Site Vigils in your own community, we would be happy to connect with you about what we have found to be good practices over the last thirty years. You may wish to view a sample of the worship aid that we distribute at each vigil, which can be downloaded here.
