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Acting Queens BP to Host Virtual Interfaith Vigil to Honor COVID-19 Victims and Frontline Workers

(Image: Echo Grid via Unsplash)

April 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan

Queens elected officials and local religious figures from various faiths are coming together to host a virtual vigil Tuesday to honor residents who have died due to COVID-19 and the borough’s frontline and essential workers battling the pandemic.

The Queens Virtual Interfaith Vigil will be hosted by Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee on April 21, at 5 p.m. It will feature at least eleven religious leaders who will join together and pray for the victims and workers who continue to put their lives at risk by treating the sick or ensuring essential services remain operating.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, New York Attorney General Letitia James are some of the names co-hosting the event.

State Senators Joseph Addabbo, Mike Gianaris Jessica Ramos as well as Council Members Costa Constantinides, Danny Dromm, Robert Holden and Francisco Moya are also listed as participants.

Confirmed speakers include:

– Imam Shamsi Ali of the Jamaica Muslim Center
– Reverend Dr. John Boyd, II of New Greater Bethel Ministries
– Father Joseph Fonti of The Church of St. Mel
– Pastor Ben Hur of Promise Church
– Dr. Neeta Jain of International Ahimsa Foundation, Inc.
– Rabbi Mark Kaiserman of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills
– Gurdev Singh Kang of the Sikh Cultural Society
– Father Mike Lopez of All Saints Priory Missionary Benedictines of the Poor
– Rabbi Yossi Mendelsohn of Congregation Machane Chodosh
– Dr. Uma Mysorekar of the Hindu Temple Society of North America
– Venerable Youwang Shih of the International Buddhist Progress Society

The borough president is asking attendees/viewers to RSVP by clicking on this link or by calling 718-286-2661. For live broadcast information visit queensbp.org/interfaithvigal

More than 2,600 Queens residents have lost their lives to COVID-19 and close to 40,000 Queens residents have been infected with the virus since the outbreak began, according to the latest official figures.