Pipeline to pull prayer from local community

Standing Rock inspires solidarity service

Protestors demonstrate at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation against the Dakota Access oil pipeline Sept. 9, 2016. (Photo Credit: Andrew Cullen / Reuters)

Prayer unites individuals peacefully, and that's what a local Eastern Orthodox Church intends to do.

The Eastern Catholic Church in Richmond is holding a vesper to pray for a "just and irenic solution to the concerns of the Native Americans at Standing Rock, North Dakota" Dec. 4, from 6-8 p.m, said Father Richard Soo, SJ.

"The ecumenical patriarchy under Patriarch Bartholomew are very concerned with environmental issues," Father Soo said. "Pope Francis's latest document Ladauto si'  quotes the Eastern Churches extensively."

Escalating accounts of violence against protestors of the Dakota oil line has created many rallies in support, such as in Seattle, Winnipeg, and Courtney, B.C. Father Soo hopes the global support of prayer and peaceful protesting will reduce the violence against protestors, encourage the Dakotan government and corporations to engage in a real dialogue with the Sioux tribe, and for all involved to "be good stewards of God's creation, and treat others with love and respect."

"Everyone is welcome to this ecumenical event, which is cosponsored by Eastern Catholic Church, Richmond, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver's First Nations Office with Deacon Rennie Nahanee," said Father Soo. "It all starts with prayer, we must be grounded in the Lord."