VOTF Vigil in Dracut, Thursday, March 13, 6:30 pm

He told them, "My soul is crushed by grief to the point of death. 
Stay here and watch with me." -- Mark 14:34

The VOTF Merrimack Valley Region (MA) will be sponsoring a vigil outside of St. Francis Church in Dracut, MA on Thursday, March 13, 2003 beginning at 6:30 pm. This is the first stop on Bishop Lennon's Healing Initiative around the Archdiocese of Boston.

It is our intention to remind the Bishop and all Catholics that there is much additional work to be done before real healing can occur. We believe that prayer is needed, but that it is not sufficient; the Church must return to truth, high moral and ethical standards, and love -- the ideals the Church was built on. There will be statements from VOTF leaders and from victim/survivors.

If possible, please bring a stuffed toy (perhaps a lamb or teddy bear) with a name tag on it. The name tag should have the first name of a survivor on it. The stuffed animals will be left near the church as a reminder of all the children who were physically and spiritually sacrificed by deviant priests and complicit bishops. If weather permits, we will retrieve the toys and donate them to various Merrimack Valley hospital children's units for Easter. We will have glowsticks (due to weather) instead of candles as well.

Please make every effort to join us in this prayerful, dignified vigil.

Blessings and a sincere thank you,

Stacey Quealey, Merrimack Valley Regional Coordinator
John Vellante, St. Michael Parish Voice, North Andover
Mike Gustin, Chelmsford/Westford Parish Voice
Mo Donovan, Parish Voice of the Seacoast
Patricia Gomez, Concord Area Parish Voice
Emile Gilbert, St. Augustine Parish Voice, Andover
JoAnne Nowak, St. Robert Bellarmine PV, Andover
Jill Pontius, Acton Parish Voice

DIRECTIONS TO ST. FRANCIS CHURCH IN DRACUT, 115 WHEELER ROAD, DRACUT, MA 01826

ROUTE 93 TO EXIT 46. AT FOOT OF RAMP FOLLOW ROTARY AROUND TO ROUTE 113 WEST. FOLLOW ROUTE 113 WEST TO FIRST SET OF LIGHTS (APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES). DRACUT FIRE STATION IS ON YOUR RIGHT. TAKE A LEFT AND CHURCH IS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR RIGHT.

P.S. IGNORE ANY SIGN YOU MIGHT SEE POINTING YOU TO ST. FRANCIS CHURCH BEFORE THAT FIRST SET OF LIGHTS. THAT WILL GET YOU THERE, BUT IN A REAL ROUNDABOUT WAY. BEST WAY IS TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ABOVE.

###