Cities for Life Events Held November 30, 2018

On November 30, events will be held at various locations in Florida dioceses to recognize International Day of Cities for Life / Cities Against the Death Penalty. This annual event has been spearheaded by the lay Catholic community of Sant'Egidio since 2002. Over 2,000 cities across the globe have declared themselves "Cities for Life" and are committed to the abolition of the death penalty and a more civil form of justice.

Specific efforts vary by location, but many cities take part by lighting up major historical, religious or civic monuments. In turn, those illuminated monuments become symbols that represent the commitment to creating a world without the death penalty.

November 30 coincides with the anniversary of the first death penalty abolition in history, which occurred in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Italy on November 30, 1786.

You are invited to attend an event in your area.

ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI
Following Mass, Detention Ministry volunteers from the Archdiocese of Miami will lead a Rosary for Life, praying the Sorrowful Mysteries for an end to the use of the death penalty in Florida. 

Corpus Christi Catholic Church
3220 NW 7th Ave, Miami
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Deacon Edgardo Farias
 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
11691 NW 25th St, Doral
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Gumersindo Danger
 
St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church
2501 S Post Rd, Weston
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by William Mejias
 
St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
1301 SW 136th Ave, Davie
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Alfredo Bernal
 
St. Andrew Catholic Church
9950 NW 29th St, Coral Springs
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Gail McLellan
 
San Isidro Catholic Church
2310 Hammondville Rd, Pompano Beach
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Margaret Ferrara
 
Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea
1010 Windsor Ln, Key West
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service led by Brenda Callahan
 
DIOCESE OF ORLANDO
Church of Our Savior
5301 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
6:00 p.m.
Featured speakers:
Juanita Perez, mother and grandmother of local murder victims 
Michael Pirolo, public defender from Brevard County
Father Fred Ruse, retired pastor, Church of Our Savior
Special guest appearance: Tom Kinzia, with choir
 
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
1014 N Halifax Ave, Daytona Beach
7:00 p.m.
Featured speakers:
Fr. Phil Egitto, pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes
Dale Recinella, JD, MTS, Catholic correctional chaplain Florida death row and author
Ron Wright, 27th exonerated Florida death row survivor
Mark Elliott, Director, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
 
DIOCESE OF PALM BEACH
Parishes are invited to light churches and ring bells at 5:00 p.m. Please check with your local parish to find out if it will participate in this event.
 
DIOCESE OF PENSACOLA-TALLAHASSEE
Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel
19 North Palafox Street, Pensacola
7:00 p.m.
Prayer led by Father Joe Callipare, pastor, Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel
Featured speakers: Deacon Andrew and Kate Grosmaire, authors of “Forgiving My Daughter’s Killer”

St. Joseph the Worker
1664 Main St, Chipley
7:00 p.m.
Holy Hour and prayer service led by Father Will Ganci, Administrator, St. Joseph the Worker and St. Anne Parishes
 
Good Shepherd Church
4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee
7:00 p.m.
Prayer service and featured speakers:
Bishop William Wack, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Maria Morrison, Senior Social Worker, Equal Justice Initiative
Father Dustin Feddon, Catholic Prison Ministry Coalition
 
DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE
St. Patrick Catholic Church
500 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville
6:30 p.m.
Featured speakers:
Sonya Rudenstein, J.D., Amicus Committee for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Christine Henderson, Equal Justice USA and Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
Herb Donaldson, nephew of deceased death row inmate
 
Basilica of Immaculate Conception
121 E. Duval St., Jacksonville
6:30 p.m.
Featured speakers:
Stephen Harper, Death Penalty Clinic and FIU College of Law Clinical Program
Emma Tacke, Catholic Mobilizing Network
Bobbi Jean Murray, sister of convicted killer, Steven James Murray
Nancy O’Byrne, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
 
The Shrine at Mission Nombre de Dios
101 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine
6:30 p.m.
Featured speakers:
Timothy Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Religion at Flagler College
Chris Moser, J.D., Professor of Law at Flagler College
Kathy Dillon, advocate for murder victims and families
 
DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG
The Franciscan Center
3010 N. Perry Avenue, Tampa
7:00 p.m.
Interfaith Prayer Service
Local clergy and guest speakers:
Bishop Gregory Parkes, Reverend Kim Wells and Father Bob Schneider
Derrick Jamison, Death Row exoneree
Allison Ferber Miller, Senior Assistant Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit
 
Light refreshments and the opportunity to mingle with Derrick Jamison and Allison Ferber Miller from 6-7 p.m.

South Lawn of the Historic Court House
One Courthouse Square, Inverness
5:30 p.m.
Guest speaker:
Bernard L. Welch, Advocacy and Justice Ministry, St. Patrick Church, Mount Dora
Area clergy will also be attending
 
DIOCESE OF VENICE
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
21505 Augusta Avenue, Port Charlotte
9:30 a.m.
Following the 8:30 a.m. daily Mass, join parishioners in the Ministry Center for a video presentation of Marietta Jaeger Lane titled, “A Mother’s Journey: From Fury to Forgiveness.” Listen to Marietta explain what happened after her 7-year-old daughter Susie was kidnapped on a camping trip.  God changed Marietta’s life and heart.