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 .