By Brittany Wilson | Diocesan Social Media Coordinator

Violence begat violence July 7 when a lone gunman opened fire on police officers near the end of an otherwise peaceful demonstration in Dallas to protest fatal shootings by law enforcement in Louisiana and Minnesota earlier in the week. Five police officers were killed, which "calls us to a moment of national reflection," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"To all people of goodwill, let us beg for the strength to resist the hatred that blinds us to our common humanity," Archbishop Kurtz said in a July 8 statement.

The archbishop described the attack on the Dallas officers as "an act of unjustifiable evil."

The Diocese of Trenton shared posts from the USCCB and Diocese of Dallas on Friday, calling for prayers for the victims and their families. Below are some of the responses from the faithful across the Diocese. Some responses have been edited for clarity:

Shirley Pesano: My prayers go to all the family. And I pray for all our police officers, keep them safe.

Mateo Greeley: May we also pray for the African-American community and all those who feel the weight of marginalization and prejudice in our country. May we be people who work to walk with the voiceless, the unrepresented, the minority, to truly recognize the intrinsic value of all people and to break cycles that keep communities and people as "other." And may we stop being afraid of "other" and work for unity, family and peace... that we be people of courage and love. (Mateo Greeley is the Diocese of Trenton’s associate director of the Office of Communications and Media)

Each Friday morning on the Diocese of Trenton’s page, a question is posed that asks those who connect with the page to share the things for which they are thankful. The following was particularly poignant on July 8, given the horrific events in Dallas the previous night.

Jewel E Brennan: I am grateful for all the policemen and women, firemen and women, EMTs who brave to serve our communities and keep us safe. I ask for prayers for the city of Dallas and for all the policemen and women who lost their lives or were wounded in Dallas last night. I am grateful that my cousins who live in Dallas and one who works for the city in personnel that they are all safe. Let us pray for all the families and loved ones of the victims and the wounded and for an end to the gun and bombing violence in our country and around the world. 

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Brittany Wilson is the Diocese of Trenton’s social media coordinator. She can be reached at [email protected].