Hundreds Gather in Silver Spring, MD to Hold Interfaith Vigil for Sri Lankan Victims
On Saturday, April 27, 2019, the International Buddhist Center in Silver Spring, Maryland hosted an interfaith vigil for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka that took the lives of over 250 people on Easter Sunday. Local ecumenical officer from the Diocese of Arlington, Fr. Don Rooney, and current President of CADEIO (Catholic Association for Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers) was invited to attend.
"I was very touched that the Buddhists would reach out in such solidarity to the Catholic/Christian community," he said, "and that there would be such an outpouring of sentiments of peace and comfort."
The vigil was attended by hundreds of people, and while many were Sri Lankan Buddhist or Catholic, there were at least six religions represented, including Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism.
The Abbot, Ven. Bhante Uparatana, graciously welcomed leaders from these various communities to pray for healing and peace, and the ceremony included hundreds of candles to represent the victims in Sri Lanka.