Therapists from the Catholic Charities Child and Family Services Critical Incident Stress Management Team will be present at St. John’s Catholic Church in Columbia on Sunday, January 26 from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon and from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m. to offer counseling services in the wake of Saturday’s deadly shooting at Columbia Mall.
The counseling will be available at the request of Archbishop William Lori to all members of the community, including those employed at Columbia Mall and to people of all faith traditions. Priests and counselors able to minister to members of the Nigerian and Spanish-speaking communities will be among those offering counseling.
St. John’s is located at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center at 10431 Twin Rivers Road.
Earlier, Archbishop Lori called for prayers for the victims and their families.
“On behalf of the entire family of faith in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, I extend our heartfelt prayers for the victims of today’s tragic shooting, and for their families and friends, asking the God of life and of love to bless them with consolation and strength.
“May this day of sorrow, during which we have witnessed but the latest act of senseless violence in our society, turn our hearts and minds anew to the dignity and value of every human life. May this day spur us on to work and pray for the day that, with every person respected and loved, we will be free from such violence and fear.”