Mount St. Mary’s University invites the community to attend a program on Thursday, October 26 which features persons deeply affected by acts of violence who, like the Amish community recently, responded to violence with calls for forgiveness and hope for reconciliation.

At 7:00 p.m. in Laughlin Hall (located in the Science Building on the Mount campus) members of the “Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing” will speak at a program that is free and open to the public.

“Journey of Hope” is a tour of speakers whose lives have been impacted by the death penalty. Many are individuals who have lost loved ones through murder and refuse to respond to killing with more killing. Others are persons who have spent years on death row until their innocence was finally proven. Others are persons who have a family member on death row, facing execution. All “Journey of Hope” members seek to end the cycle of violence which the death penalty extends. These powerful speakers hope that in providing accounts of their own journey from violence to healing they may encourage reflection on how our society should respond to violent crime. The program will encourage attendees to explore whether the Amish in Lancaster have truly provided an inspiring and hopeful witness.

For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 301-447-5366.