a collaboration with partners including the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis
and Prayers for Liberty

WELCOME & SOLIDARITY VIGIL WITH MINNESOTA

Rev. Rebecca Bryan, First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist in Newburyport and a MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Merrimack Valley Project (MVP) called us together at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on the Boston Commons to take part in the virtual vigil led by Isaiah, MCAN’s sister Faith In Action federation in Minneapolis, to ground the gathering in shared faith, shared struggle, and shared responsibility.

BUILDING THE MOVEMENT

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond,
Founding Pastor, New Roots AME Church,
MCAN Clergy Leader,  created opportunity for brief relational “sacred encounters” among faith leaders, emphasizing connection and collective preparation before crisis.

In pairs, clergy asked each other these questions and closed by blessing each other:
Who are your people? Who has the Holy One called you to serve? What is beautiful about them? Where do they struggle?

How has this moment challenged and/or deepened your faith? What practices do you feel called to start or sustain?

PROCESSION TO THE STATE HOUSE

Rev. Aaron Payson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, MCAN Clergy Leader from MCAN affiliate Worcester Interfaith (WI) led a prayerful procession from the Cathedral to the State House as a moving liturgy with song, silence, and reflection.

STATE HOUSE MEMORIAL HALL : PRAYERFUL WITNESS

Faith leaders from many traditions offered short prayers and statements affirming that protecting the vulnerable is a core faith value and that silence enables harm.

A VISIT TO THE OFFICE OF GOV. MAURA HEALEY

After several months of calling on Gov. Maura Healey to take bold, public, executive action in the face of the escalating presence of ICE and other federal forces, a clergy delegation was blessed and delivered a letter to Gov. Healey’s office. Read the letter here.

The clergy team delivering the letter included Rabbi Alison Adler, Rev. Jeff Kardisco, Rev. Dave Woessner, and Sr. Melinda Pellerin, SSJ.