Rome: Sant'Egidio hold vigil for Florida shooting victims

Source: Sant'Egidio/Vatican News Service

The Community of Sant'Egidio will be holding a prayer vigil tonight with American university students in Rome, at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere for victims of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida one month ago.

On St Valentine's February 14, at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Seventeen 17 students and teachers were killed on St Valentine's Day, 14 February in the barbaric attack which was the most serious school shooting carried out in the United States. The shooter was a 17 year-old student known by his classmates and neighbours to be unstable - yet he was able to buy powerful combat weapons without any difficulties.

Names of the victims will be read during the Vigil and a candle will be lit for each one, so that no one is forgotten and a strong message will be launched against violence.

Staff and students at more that 3,000 schools and colleges are taking part in walkouts and prayer vigils across the United States, organized by Women's March Youth EMPOWER. Among them are at least 30 Catholic high schools and a dozen Catholic colleges, including: St Joseph's Catholic Academy in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Sacred Heart Academy in Mount Pleasant, Michigan; Holy Names Academy in Seattle; Maryknoll School in Honolulu and Saint Gertrude High School in Richmond, Virginia.