CV NEWS FEED // During his homily for the annual Mass for sailors and mariners at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the priest honored the victims of the recent Baltimore bridge collapse and prayed for them and their families.
Fr. Arthur Unachukwu, the associate director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, celebrated the “Mass for the Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea” on May 18, according to online news publication the Catholic Standard.
“The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge evidenced the high risk that dock workers face every day as they go about their workday. Let us pray to God for the eternal rest of our deceased brothers and sisters and ask the Virgin Mary to accompany the families and survivors in their time of grief,” said Fr. Unachukwu at the beginning of his homily.
The bridge collapse occurred in the early hours of March 26 when a cargo vessel lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support beams.
A group of construction workers were the only people on the bridge at the time of its collapse, and six of them have been confirmed dead. Several of the six victims were parishioners at parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
>> Baltimore archdiocese supports families of victims of Key Bridge collapse with prayer vigil <<
The names of the workers who lost their lives to the bridge collapse are Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Miguel Luna, Jose Mynor Lopez, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, Carlos Hernandez, and Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes.
Fr. Unachukwu also mentioned the support of the maritime Catholic ministry Stella Maris, which responded to the tragedy with both spiritual and material support.
“[The] Church is always attentive to provide spiritual and human assistance to all her children,” Fr. Unachukwu said.
The Catholic Standard also highlighted a news release from the USCCB about the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea, which is on May 22.
In the news release, Bishop Brendan Cahill called for special prayers on May 22 for the victims of the bridge collapse and their families; the captain and crew of the cargo ship; the dive rescue teams and first responders; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Army Corps of Engineers; and law enforcement and government officials. Bishop Cahill also encouraged Catholics to pray for the intercession of Our Lady, Star of the Sea.
