The 69th Precinct Clergy Council held a Prayer Vigil on Monday night at the corner of Rockaway Parkway and Seaview Avenue. The vigils are held on a monthly basis, at busy areas where crime is high. Due to the cold winter months, this is the first vigil the Clergy Council has hosted since November 2021, but there was no shortage of powerful prayers for the Canarsie community.
After songs of praise and an opening prayer by Clergy Council President Rev. Cecil Moonsam, members of the clergy prayed for specific needs, including President Biden and Vice President Harris, blessings for our Nation and a call for an end to the terrible war in Ukraine, that no more lives would be lost.
Gift Card for Every Youth that attends with a parent:
TOPIC: GUN VIOLENCE IN MY COMMUNITY
Deputy Chief Ruel Stephenson
The 69th Precinct Clergy Council presses on in its quest to curb gun violence in the community. At this anti-gun violence meeting held at Church of The Rock, Guest Speaker Deputy Chief Ruel Stephenson, counsels youths about the dangers of owning an illegal gun and the consequences of gun violence.
PRAYER VIGIL
MARCH 7TH
Tonight the Clergy Council prayed for peace in our communities, the nation and abroad.
FEBRUARY 1ST
Up And Coming Rapper Shot Dead Outside Canarsie Home
Reverend Cecil Moonsam, a resident of Canarsie and President of the 69th Precinct Clergy Council, visited the scene on Ave L and East 98th St, where an up-and-coming rapper was gunned down on February 1st, in what police say was a drive-by shooting.
Speaking to Carolyn Blackburne, from News 12, Reverend Moonsam, a known anti-gun-violence advocate, expressed his growing concern over the way “a lot of our young men are shooting up each other. Our prayers are with the family who lost their son this afternoon to gun violence in Canarsie”, he stated.
The following Saturday, February 5th, Reverend Moonsam and members of the Clergy Council returned to the crime scene where they were joined by members of the community, in a candlelight vigil. “We have to encourage and strengthen the grieving family” he later told his fellow clergy members.
FEBRUARY 6TH
This was a very long and busy Sunday for Reverend Cecil Moonsam. After attending all-day service at his church, that evening, he joined an anti-gun violence rally held on the corner of East 81st St and Flatlands Ave. The event, held in “Loving Memory” of Carlton “LOCKSLEY” Bennett, was organized by his family and friends, on the anniversary of his death.
January 21st
The slayings of Officer Jason Rivera and his partner Officer Wilbert Mora on Friday, January 21st, were particularly jarring to members of the 69th Precinct Clergy Council. On Sunday, January 23rd, still reeling from the horrific news, the President, Reverend Cecil Moonsam, convened an emergency, virtual, prayer vigil in the officer’s memory.
After saying an opening prayer, Reverend Moonsam, read a scripture verse. “If my people who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)
OUTRAGED COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ATTENDED THE VIGIL SPOKE OUT.
A clearly distraught State Senator Honorable Roxanne J. Persaud her voice breaking at times, expressed her grief. “My condolences to all of the NYPD community. As the sister of a Police Officer, I feel the pain. Despite what happens, they continue to put their lives on the line every day, to protect us. We are supportive.”
Assemblywoman Honorable Jaime R. Williams echoed the Senator’s pledge of support for the NYPD community. Her anguish evident, her voice rose as she spoke. “We stand with our entire city, for every man and woman who wears the uniform. … We must support as elected officials! We must take responsibility!”
Commanding Officer Captain Khandakar Abdullah,
FAITH LEADERS ALSO EXPRESSED THEIR SUPPORT
Pastor Mullery Jean-Pierre of Beraca Baptist Church and Chaplain Faith Williams of the 69th Precinct, prayed for protection for all officers, for reform -- changes in gun laws and related legislation.
Reverend Gesner Sagesse implored God to “cover them with Your Shield!”
The Imam of Canarsie Islamic Center, took time out of his evening prayers, to attend the meeting denounce the brutal killings in his native tongue.
Rabbi Bob Kaplan, prayed for “comfort for the victims’ souls … strength for the Mayor … and an end to the madness!”
Pastor Gilford T. Monrose, President of the 67th Precinct Clergy Council – dubbed The God Squad – stated that he is “committed to Faith communities being a part of the solution.”
Commanding Officer, Captain Khandakar Abdullah from the 69th precinth, thanked everyone for the outpouring of prayers and support for the NYPD and made an appeal for continued prayers for the officers’ families as well as the 32nd precinct to which Officer Rivera and Officer Mora were assigned.
January 21st
Today, the 69th precinct Clergy Council together with NYPD, elected officials and community leaders, held a massive rally denouncing gun violence which has become very rampant in our communities. A few hours after the rally, everyone was shocked and disheartened to learn the horrific news that two rookie officers, Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, from the 32nd Precinct, had been gunned down in an ambush.
YOUTH ANTI-GUN-VIOLENCE RALLY
Reverend Moonsam, NYPD and community leaders hold youth anti-gun-violence rally
It was a scorching day but that did not prevent these youths from joining the Clergy Council and NYPD in an anti-gun-violence rally.
Honoring Mothers Who Lost Children To Gun Violence
PRAYER VIGIL
Community members light candles
Clergy Council prays
Clergy Council members and community leaders gather at the site of a gun violence incident to pray for peace and safety in the community.
ROLL CALL
Reverend Gesner Sagesse, Chaplain Faith Williams and Chaplain. Laflora attend roll call at the 69th.
Reverend Moonsam and Clergy Council members at roll call
Clergy Council members, dressed in blue vests, gather with officers daily, at roll call, to pray for their safety.
911 MEMORIAL
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEMINAR
Parents and victims of sex trafficking spoke of the horrors of this act. They mentioned some of the grooming tactics traffickers use to gain their victims’ confidence and to control them. They also explained some of the behavioral patterns that could be telltale signs of something being wrong.
