Lexington’s St. Paul Catholic Church will host an “Encounter” program entitled “Unity in Blood” Monday evening. The downtown church began hosting interfaith gatherings following the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Florida.
Lexington United Interfaith Encounters and Dialogues Founder J.R. Zerkowski says previous encounters have focused on issues like immigration and mercy as recognized by different faiths. This Monday's program will set the stage for a blood drive a week from today. Zerkowski says the idea came from Meg Campos who had benefited from donated blood. “We thought what a wonderful witness to unity, because when we’re desperate for our lives to be saved, we really don’t care whose blood it is. It’s blood from another family member,” said Zerkowski.
Anita Franklin with Lexington’s Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will offer her thoughts . Zerkowski says regardless of the variety of attitudes about guns, it’s important to respect the human person and dialogue realizing no one individual has the answer about gun violence. Zerkowski says the idea is to respect all and put aside divisive labels. “Building the culture of encounters is the only way forward where we see another as family, not as a foe, not as a Democrat, not as a Republican. Not necessarily as a Jew or a Muslim or a Catholic or an Episcopalian. We’re one family, and that what the encounter stresses,” noted Zerkowski.
The musical prelude Monday evening at St. Paul’s begins at 6:30 with the program to follow.
Weku's Stu Johnson talks with J.R. Zerkowski about the May Sixth Encounters Program at St. Paul Church:
