February | 2024 | Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Washington, D.C.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy in Lafayette Park and Ecumenical Prayer Service and Public Witness Outside the White House

Dear Friends,

On Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Pax Christi USA, along with the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Franciscan Action Network and Maryknoll, sponsored an 11 AM Mass in Lafayette Park. This was followed by a Noon-time Ecumenical Prayer Service and Public Witness in front of the White House. During this prayer/witness, organized by Christians 4 Ceasefire (C4C), faith-leaders called on the Biden Administration and Congress to support an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. This witness marked the launch of a Lenten Ceasefire Campaign being organized by C4C.

Over 100 people participated in the Mass and Ecumenical Prayer Service, and a smaller group of 13 people risked arrest following the service. Those risking arrests prayed and witnessed in the “picture post-card” zone directly in front of the White House (normally an arrestable offense) and at two other nearby entrances to the White House. However, for unknown reasons, the Secret Service declined to make arrests.

Please see below the following:

Press Release for Ash Wednesday Witness
Order of Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Prayer Service Outside the White House
Franciscan Action Network You Tube Link for Mass, Ecumenical Prayer Service and Risk Arrest Witness
Religious News Service Article
Photos of Mass, Ecumenical Prayer Service and Public Witness

I am deeply grateful for everyone who helped organize and participated in this Ash Wednesday Mass, Ecumenical Prayer and public witness. Grateful, too, for those who could not physically be present but were in prayerful solidarity.

In peace and hope,
Art

Press Release-February 14, 2024

Christian leaders take public action on Ash Wednesday to call for a ceasefire, a political process, and humanitarian assistance to Gaza

Contacts: Janine Walsh, 203-685-1856, walsh@franciscanaction.org or Judy Coode, 202-425-0576, jcoode@paxchristiusa.org

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, February 14 at 11:00 AM in Lafayette Park by the White House, national Christian organizations and peacemakers will launch a weekly Lenten Ceasefire Campaign, starting with a Catholic Mass to be followed by an ecumenical public witness, to call attention to and in mourning for the tens of thousands of lives that have been destroyed in Gaza and Israel since October 7, 2023.

The Lenten season (held this year from Ash Wednesday, February 14, until Good Friday, March 29) is an annual time of reflection, repentance, and renewal, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before his crucifixion and resurrection (celebrated on Easter).

This year, weekly strategic nonviolent actions will take place during Lent to call on President Biden, a Catholic, and members of Congress, particularly those who are Christian, to abide by Jesus’ way of courageous love and urge them to:

a) Publicly call for bilateral ceasefire to prevent the further loss of life

b) Support demilitarization rather than supplying additional military aid or arms to Israel

c) Focus on a release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held without due process

d) Support robust humanitarian assistance and restarting U.S. government funding to UNRWA, the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees e) Work diplomatically to end the siege on Gaza and end the occupation of the Palestinian Territory in order to address the root causes of the violence, accountability for harm, and move all parties toward a lasting, just peace that protects all human life and ensures long-term security and sustainability in the Middle East.

The organizations involved with this Lenten campaign believe that the focus must shift to diplomacy, accountability mechanisms, and strategic peacebuilding, and that neither war nor retribution is sustainable. We believe urgent action is needed to stop the mass slaughter, destruction, and generational trauma.

The Catholic Mass will start at 11 AM; the ecumenical prayer witness will begin about 12 PM.

Co-sponsors of the Lenten Ceasefire Campaign include Churches for Middle East Peace; Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker; Festival Center; Franciscan Action Network; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Churches, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace; Pax Christi USA; Quixote Center; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; United Church of Christ; Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)

Order of Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Prayer Service-Witness Outside the White House

Welcome and Opening Reflection/Statement: Art Laffin, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

Distribution of Ashes (Song: “Ashes”)

Call and Response Lamentation/Litany: Michele Dunne–Franciscan Action Network, and

Emily Parker—UCC

Testimony/Prayer: Philip Farah–Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace

Testimony/Prayer: Susan Gunn–Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Russ Testa–CMEP

Reflection/Prayer: Rev. Adam Taylor, Sojourners

Reflection-Explanation of ritual marking our hands with red-dye to symbolize that “Blood is on our Hands:” Rev. Graylan Hagler – Pastor Emeritus, Plymouth Congregation Church WDC, Fellowship of Reconciliation

Song: O Healing River

Song: Seek Peace and Pursue It

Franciscan Action Network You Tube Link

Courtesy of Janine Walsh walsh@franciscanaction.org