Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, will preside at a candlelight vigil and interfaith prayer service to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, tonight at 6:30 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cathedral and Mulberry Streets.
The vigil, hosted by Catholic Relief Services, will bring together religious leaders from various faith communities, as well as representatives of relief agencies responding to the crisis in Sudan.
Since fighting broke out in the western region of Sudan in February 2003, an estimated 50,000 men, women and children have died, while close to a million more have become refugees.
In addition to calling attention to the crisis, Cardinal Keeler will offer a prayer for the estimated 2.2 million people affected and call for a lasting peace in the region.