Walk of Trust

Before 2014 very few people outside of our metropolitan area had ever heard of Ferguson, Missouri. Then Michael Brown was shot and that changed forever.

Although since that time there have been commissions studying the issues and a Department of Justice investigation, things are not completely settled.  Robert Carlson, the Archbishop of St. Louis, had the idea to invite members of the Taizé Community (an ecumenical monastic order in France) to help plan a weekend long Pilgrimage of Trust. As part of the pilgrimage they sponsored a Walk of Trust for people of all faiths and backgrounds this afternoon.  Hubby Tony and I were there.  It was an awesome experience. 

According to the event's website:

The Walk of Trust is an important display of the unity and solidarity we need to begin healing the many divisions present in our community.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, where we started, was the second stop on the walk.  Right as the church bells were ringing at 2:00 the people gathered outside started walking.  The group moved slowly but steadily around the neighborhood, picking up more walkers at the Second Presbyterian Church and the Galilee Baptist Church. It stopped at the Daughters of Charity Province Office for prayer and song, then continued on to the West Pine Mosque and the Clock Tower on the St. Louis University campus (where we stopped for more prayer and song).  Next we walked towards the school's Chaifetz Arena, where we gathered for more prayer before heading inside.

Several hundred people filtered into the arena for a prayer service.  There were short homilies by Archbishop Carlson and the Reverend Traci Blackmon, a member of the Ferguson Commission.  After more prayer, meditation, and song, the walk officially ended.

I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon.  It was great to talk with people from all different parts of the metropolitan area, and several from other states (and even Canada!) who had come specifically for the Pilgrimage. I learned something from each and every one of them.

Five years ago today: Memorial