The Gay and Lesbian Ministry of Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church announces its second annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Service and Memorial Ribbon Project.
The Candlelight Service will take place on World AIDS Day December 1, at 7:00 pm in St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, 116 Sixth Avenue, between Park and Sterling Places in Park Slope, Brooklyn and will feature a talk by designer and teacher Jim Morgan co-founder of Friends House in New York City, which offers housing and support to persons with AIDS, and Kisangura Friends Secondary School in Tanzania for children orphaned by AIDS.
The exuberant and inspiring Gay Men’s Chorus of Manhattan, a group of choral musicians dedicated to educating through song, who use the gift of voice to promote tolerance and acceptance for GLBT and all peoples, will perform.
The Ribbon Project will installed beginning in mid-November through World AIDS Day 2007. "It is our hope that the red ribbons bearing the names of some who have died of AIDS lining the iron fence that surrounds Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church will serve as a stark and reverent reminder of the continued need to strive to improve AIDS/ HIV education, support all who live with HIV and AIDS and press for a cure," writes one of the events founders.
With an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 HIV- positive individuals living in the U.S., and approximately 40,000 new infections occurring every year, the U.S., like other nations around the world is deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. On December 1, World AIDS Day, it is fitting to reflect on the way that the pandemic of HIV and AIDS affects us on local, national and international levels. The World AIDS Day 2007-2008 call to "Keep the Promise" brings emphasis to the importance of holding individuals, religious leaders, faith organizations, international and national governments and agencies accountable for the commitments they have made to fight HIV and AIDS.
The church invites all those who wish to do so to take part in their Ribbon Project by submitting names of loved ones who have died of AIDS. Send names, with or without last names — informal or ‘nicknames’ are acceptable — and dates of birth and death if these details are available.
This information may be mailed or hand-delivered, through the mail slot, to the St. Augustine Church Rectory (at 116 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn; mark envelopes: “Ribbon Project”) or sent by email to staugustinegay@gmail.com. Names inscribed on the ribbons will be read aloud as part of the prayer service. (deadline: November 28)
For further information please call St. Augustine Church (718 783 3132), write to staugustinegay@gmail.com or visit www.brooklyngaycatholics.blogspot.com .