Photos

Belmont Cragin parishes unite to demand peace, justice

The three parishes in Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood hosted a peace walk Aug. 28, 2021 to pray for peace in their community and to call for justice for those killed. The procession began at St. John Bosco Church, 2250 N. McVicker Ave., processed to St. James the Apostle Church, 5730 W. Fullerton Ave., and ended at St. Genevieve Church, which is part of Sts. Genevieve and Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish, 4835 W. Atlgeld St. More than 80 people participated in the walk during which they prayed the rosary and stopped at sites where people were killed in their community. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Sergio Riva, pastor of Sts. Genevieve Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, addresses walk participants at the start outside of St. John Bosco Church. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
Participants hold their signs with messages calling for peace and justice near the start of the walk. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
Melissa McGlynn speaks to the crowd about someone who lost their life to violence. At each stop, participants remembered someone who died by violence in their community, often at the location, and then prayed a decade of the rosary. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
Participants process toward Fullerton Avenue and chant messages of peace and calls for justice. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
Members of Parents for Peace and Justice carry a banner at the head of the procession. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
Two members of the Christ for Life biker group attended the walk. One member lost a family member to gun violence. (Alejandro Castillo/Chicago Catholic)
The procession makes its way up W. Atlgeld St. to St. Genevieve church for the final stop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Carrying handmade signs, people make their way into the church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Some participants wear T-shirts with the image of their deceased loved ones on the front. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
More than 80 people attended the walk on a day when the temperature reached high 90s and saw high humidity. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Participants process into the church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Riva leads the recitation of the rosary. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A woman prays before the altar. Riva had participants place their signs in front of the altar, which stayed there for all weekend Masses. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Melissa McGlynn prays during the rosary. McGlynn organized the walk with Father Riva. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Women pray during the final decade of the rosary. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A woman prays during the final service. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Advertising