Phoenixville Community Peace Vigil Aims For Solidarity

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A Community Peace Vigil will be held in Phoenixville in the wake of several acts of violence in the area over the past several months.

The vigil will aim to create a "quiet and reflective atmosphere of solace and solidarity," according to organizers. Its goal is to create both reflection and action, said Rev. Koshy Matthews, Rector at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

On Dec. 27, Jayson Ortiz-Cameron, 14, a freshman at Phoenixville Area High School, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a local Dunkin Donuts. In November, a woman was stabbed multiple times in a church parking lot in the borough. And in September, a 21-year-old shot and killed Joshua Mitchell, aged 20, in Children's Plaza on Bridge Street.

The hunt for the suspects in Ortiz-Cameron's killing is underway. A GoFundMe for Ortiz-Cameron's family has been launched to help them with funeral expenses. Learn more and donate here.

The vigil will include an interfaith service, featuring scripture and prayers from multiple faith communities, including Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Ba Hai, and Native American traditions, organizers said.

The service will last about an hour, and will be followed by conversations themed on peace and community-building.

The service was initially planned in the wake of the massacre in Las Vegas on Oct. 1.

It will take place on Sunday, Jan. 14 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, at 3:30 p.m.

St. Peter's is located on 121 Church Street.

Image via GoFundMe