Since 2002, the Community of Sant’Egidio has organized the International Day of Cities for Life, Cities against the Death Penalty, which takes place every year on November 30 – on the anniversary of the first abolition of the death penalty on the part of a State, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany on November 30, 1786.
FADP began participating in the International Day of Cities for Life, Cities against the Death Penalty, in 2015.
In 2016, FADP organized 8 events across the state of Florida in collaboration with the International Day of Cities for Life. Read more about the 2016 events below.
Click here to view photos from the 2016 events.
St. Augustine
“Cities for Life – Every Life is Sacred – Join the worldwide movement to abolish the death penalty”
November 30 at 6:30pm
The Shrine at the Mission de Dios
101 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine
Featured Speakers:
- Darlene Farah – mother of murder victim Shelby Farah
- Herman Lindsey – Exonerated Florida Death Row Survivor
- Pastor Reginald Gundy – Pastor, Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, Jacksonville
- Deborah Jackson – Spouse of Florida Death Row inmate, Kim Jackson
- Father John Gillespie – Pastor of San Sebastian Catholic Church, St. Augustine
- Deacon Jason Roy – Director of Prison Ministry, Diocese of St. Augustine
- Introductions – Christine Henderson, EJUSA
Music by St. Augustine Chamber Singers/Peter Morin – St. Anastasia Church
Faith leaders and young adults will light 386 candles representing a candle for each man and woman on death row in Florida.
Tampa Bay Area
Downtown Tampa
Interfaith Prayer Service for an End to the Use of the Death Penalty
Joe Chillura Courthouse Square
400-498 Twiggs St. Tampa 33602
Speakers include:
- Allison Ferber-Miller, Assistant Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit
- Msgr. Robert Morris, Vicar General, Diocese of St. Petersburg
- Rev. Russell Meyer, Florida Council of Churches
- Rabbi Jason Rosenberg, Congregation Beth Am, Tampa
- Rev. Kim Wells, Lakewood United Church of Christ, St. Petersburg
- Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, First United Church of Christ, Tampa
November 30 is the World Day of Cities for Life/Cities against the Death Penalty. On this date, cities across the world mobilize to renounce the death penalty and work for a more civil form of justice. Congregations are invited to light their worship space as a sign of solidarity on the evening of November 30. A representative of each Congregation will be presented with a candle to take back to their faith community.
Daytona Beach
Our Lady of Lourdes Church Grotto
“Celebration of Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty”
1014 N. Halifax
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
November 30 at 6:30pm
Speakers include:
- Fr. Phil Egitto – Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes
- Dale Recinella, J.D., MTS – Author of “The Biblical Truth about America’s Death Penalty”, “Now I walk on Death Row”, and “When We Visit Jesus in Prison”
- Matt Gilbert – Assistant Public Defender for Capital Cases, 7th Judicial Circuit
- Mark Elliott – Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Sarasota
St. Martha Church
Who Would Jesus Execute?
Come and pray for an end to the use of the death penalty on Wednesday, November 30, at 6:15 p.m. following the 5:30 p.m. Communion Service at St. Martha Church, 200 North Orange Avenue (corner of Fruitville Road), Sarasota. Join your prayers with others in over 2,000 cities around the world for the 14th Annual International “Cities for Life, Cities Against the Death Penalty” event.
Tallahassee
Good Shepherd Church
Second Annual Prayer Service – “Cities for Life: Praying for Life, Mercy and Reconciliation”
In this Year of Mercy in collaboration with the Word-wide Community of Sant’Egidio, “Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty,” the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese and Good Shepherd Catholic Church will conduct a prayer service to end capital punishment culminating with the illumination of Good Shepherd immediately following the service.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at 6:00 p.m., at Good Shepherd Catholic Church 4665 Thomasville Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32309
Below: Tallahassee action – “Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty” (L-R): Dave Mueller, Michael McQuone, Mukweso Mwenene, Jane Menges, Susan Gage, Mike Popp, Gary Printy, Betty Serow, Suzanne Printy, Alphonso Figgers, Steve Hammond, Marilyn Hammond, Susan Recinella, Brenda Popp and Father Tom Dillon. 8 Florida cities joined 2,136 Worldwide Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty actions on November 30.
Palm Beach Gardens
Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach invites you to attend “CITIES FOR LIFE – Say No To The Death Penalty”
Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola
9999 North Military Trail
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Wednesday, November 30
The Very Rev. Charles Notabartolo will celebrate Mass at 5pm in the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola to pray for the end of the death penalty.
Mass will be followed by a presentation and a light dinner in the Cathedral Parish Hall. During the event, the sky over the cathedral will be illuminated by two powerful searchlights to draw attention to ending the death penalty. All are invited to attend.
Miami
Saint Dismas Outreach Center
Prayer Vigil and Illumination: Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty
November 30 at 7:00pm
St. Robert Bellarmine Mission
2640 NW 34th Street, Miami, FL 33142
Pompano Beach
Saint Dismas Outreach Center
Prayer Vigil and Illumination: Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty
November 30 at 7:00pm
St. Joseph Haitian Mission
1210 NW 6th Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33060