Catholics pray for peace, forgiveness in Paris

Catholics gathered Sunday at cathedrals in Manhattan and on Long Island to pray for those suffering in Paris, and to seek guidance from religious leaders at a time when feelings of forgiveness and mercy could be difficult to muster.

"We're all pretty much in a state of shock," Sal Restivo, 64, of Levittown, said after attending 11 a.m. Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. "Innocents getting killed as if they were on a battlefield. . . . These are people who purposely went out and killed people in religion's name."

The Rev. James Hansen, an associate pastor at St. Agnes, said after Mass that Christ calls on Catholics to meet a great challenge in the wake of the Paris attacks: "It's almost supernatural to have the grace to respond to what Jesus asks us. . . . We have to love our enemies."

Msgr. Robert Ritchie, rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan mourned the "apocalyptic" attacks and told worshippers the plan of man must be differentiated from the plan of God.

Ritchie asked those listening to the homily to "have hearts that are like Jesus, that do not hate . . . that work for the defense of human life."

He said Christians and others must "be good to those who hurt and persecute you."

Ritchie noted that the French were the first ally of the Americans against the British in the Revolutionary War.

"Today we should say, God bless France or viva la France," he said, and pray for "our brothers and sisters who are suffering in the City of Lights."

Roumanos Touma, 25, was visiting from Sydney, Australia, and came to pray at St. Patrick's for the victims of the attacks in France.

"We're praying for peace," Touma said. "It's all about peace. . . . As Christians, we can't retaliate. . . . We should leave it in God's hands."

For some New York Catholics, the tragedy in France brought back memories of the 9/11 attacks.

"I think some of us are reliving that," Elizabeth Katz, of Rockville Centre, said. She sings in the choir at St. Agnes and carried a scarf covered with the word "Paris" to show her solidarity with France.

Many parishioners said prayer was a powerful tool in times of tragedy.

"Communal prayer can help those who are hurting," William Gotimer, 56, of Rockville Centre, said after attending the 10:30 a.m. service at St. Agnes. "We believe prayers can send relief to people in pain."

With Emily Ngo