After the Florida tragedy, many Catholics found solace in common prayer to Mary

Following the sudden collapse of a multistory building with people trapped inside, many Catholics around South Florida have fled to a common refuge :the comforting presence of Mary.

So it was that several schools in the Miami Archdiocese reacted to the June 24 fall of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside by praying the rosary. Reflecting on its glorious, joyful, sorrowful and luminous mysteries, they called on the Mother of God for aid and comfort.

“I think everyone understands that in pain, you turn to your mother,” said Wency Ortega, who helped organize a virtual online rosary June 27 for students, teachers, families and alumni of Christopher Columbus High School. “And in turning to our Mother, we turn to Jesus.”

About 2,000 people tapped into Columbus’ virtual rosary, coordinated by a group of instructors and alumni of the Marist school in Miami. Taking part through YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook Live, they were knitted together via the StreamYard platform.

Individuals submitted their own intentions in chat boxes. They also prayed for members of a half-dozen families in the school’s “greater family” who remained missing.

As of July 1, at least 18 people were confirmed dead and authorities put the number of those still unaccounted for at 145. Miami-Dade County’s mayor said two of the 18 fatalities were children, ages 10 and 4.

Other schools also have held or planned their own rosaries. On June 28, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami drew 300 people to a “Prayer for Surfside.” Seated in the campus’ Roca Theater, they also heard words of encouragement from Jesuit Father Guillermo Garcia-Tuñon, school president.

Father Garcia-Tuñon first prayed for victims of the building collapse, as well as those who were still missing. Standing next to a statue of Our Lady of Belen, he also explained why the rosary was the chosen vehicle for such prayers.

As Catholics, we place so much of our hope and fears, our sadness and anger in the hands of the Mother of Jesus,” he said. “She experienced his joy and his sadness. She experienced his fear, anger and sorrow. She experienced his death. It is only natural that in times of such sorrow and pain that we run to our Mother for help.”

Adapted from Catholic News Service, July 1, 2021

Source : https://www.catholicsun.org/2021/07/01/florida-catholics-find-comfort-in-rosary-as-search-continues-amid-rubble/