“This all got started because people came to me and were upset about all the violence,” said the Rev. Robert Owczarczak, pastor of the local Lord’s Vineyard of Catholic parishes including Holy Trinity. Owczarczak named several high-profile violent incidents that made news in recent years.

“We have to pray for those people who have thoughts in their head to hurt people,” Owczarczak said. He asked God “to light a flame in our hearts” as a guide.

The prayer service was ecumenical, Pastor Matthew Schettler of Fredonia’s St. Paul Lutheran Church reading a passage from the Book of Philippians and offering remarks of his own.

Schettler said people normally think of peace as an absence of violence or cruelty. He asked everyone to “think of peace in the context of presence – the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.” Sermonizing a bit along those lines, he said, “It’s a peace that even in the face of violence – we’re good. We know where we’re going.”

OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford The Rev. Robert Owczarczak of the Lord’s Vineyard of Catholic Churches speaks at a prayer service held at Holy Trinity in Dunkirk Tuesday night.

The Rev. Joseph Walter from St. Anthony’s in Fredonia read the Gospel from John.

Owczarczak followed up with more remarks. He said we are all broken people, either dealing with or knowing someone who deals with things such as alcoholism, abortions, infidelity, drug addiction, and prison time. “In my brokenness I go to the Lord and I say, ‘Lord, I need to be healed.'”

Owczarczak noted that “Hurt people hurt people. There’s a lot of hurt in this world.” In their pain, people feel compelled to hurt someone else — they often feel worthless themselves, even undeserving of life, and take revenge, he said.

“It’s one thing to hold a candle and let people see this physically. It’s another thing to reach out to someone,” Owczarczak concluded, encouraging everyone to reach out to someone in their lives who is troubled.

The gathering sang “Let There Be Peace On Earth” as candles were lit. A police officer led the candle bearers to Central Avenue as sirens wailed way off in the distance, a reminder of the world’s many troubles.

Everyone stood or sat silently along Central Avenue with their candles for about 10 minutes. There were enough people to line all of the sidewalk in front of Holy Trinity’s church and parish hall.