A platform that encourages healthy conversation, spiritual support, growth and fellowship
NOLACatholic Parenting Podcast
A natural progression of our weekly column in the Clarion Herald and blog
The best in Catholic news and inspiration - wherever you are!
Ecumenical prayer effort to curb violence in New Orleans
-
By Christine Bordelon
Clarion HeraldBe inspired to be a conduit of peace that wins New Orleans back from crime – one block at a time – by participating online every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-6:30 a.m. on Facebook and dedicating your home as a “House of Peace.”
“We want to invite you to do your part,” said host Dean Sunseri, a counselor with a master’s degree in counseling from the University of New Orleans, a master’s in ministry from Notre Dame Seminary and a doctorate in practical ministry from Wagner Leadership Institute.Sunseri said the live broadcasts call on God for a “spiritual transformation of our city” and ask people of all faiths to pray for hearts and minds to be filled with love, which will result in a safer city.
On one recent morning, participant Leon Emery gave the opening prayer.
“Let the whirlwind of shalom be released,” Emery said. “The glory of shalom shall rest on our city now. … Father, release your healing power of shalom to rest upon us and to be released in us.”Scripture is a component Sunseri and other participants use to express what’s on their hearts while praying for the city of New Orleans.
During that same 30-minute session, Sunseri read Isaiah 60:17: “I will appoint peace your governor and justice your ruler.”
“Lord, we come before you and say ‘yes’ to manifest this in our time and region,” Sunseri said.
Simple idea blossoms
Sunseri believes he and his wife HollyKem, a life coach, have been called by the Lord to be peacemakers “to send peace to those around us … to all homes around us. Our job is to give peace.”The Sunseris, who were married by Father Stanley Klores, started a joint ministry, “Voice of the Kingdom,” in 2013. They have prayed weekly for individuals, priests and political leaders – first in person, then online when COVID hit. They’ve also written a book, “A Road Map to the Soul,” to help people heal emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.
“Our life and work has been to help individuals become who they were called to be,” said Dean Sunseri, who attended St. Joseph Seminary College for three years and then studied to be a priest at Notre Dame Seminary.
Just a few months ago, the Sunseris wanted to target their prayer initiative to “change the spiritual climate of our city and region to impact the behavior of people” and created the “House of Peace” initiative that now includes 12 different churches, including two Catholic churches.The Sunseris began speaking with priests and ministers throughout the city. Father Buddy Noel, pastor of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Westwego and Holy Guardian Angels in Avondale and director of the archdiocesan ecumenical office, is supportive and has since created an ecumenical version of Archbishop Gregory Aymond’s Family Prayer that people can use.
The adapted prayer is:“Loving and faithful God, throughout the years the people of New Orleans have appealed to you in times of war, disaster, epidemic and illness. We come to you, Father, and ask you, in the Holy Spirit poured out on us, and through your Son, Jesus Christ, who sits at your right hand ever to intercede for us, please help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism.
We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which gives respect to the life and dignity of all people.
Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth, that they may be peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence.
Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, that we may be a holy family. Amen.”
“I think that all prayer is good, no matter who is doing it,” Father Buddy said. “When the archbishop heard about (House of Peace), he thought this was a way for us to broaden our prayer against violence, murder and racism.”
Father Noel thinks prayer accomplishes far more than many realize.
“Dean wants to have whole neighborhoods doing it, particularly where there is violence,” he said. “By people praying together, there is a sense of solidarity.”
What is a House of Peace?
The concept invites individuals to invite the Lord into their household and make it a “House of Peace,” whose members then pray for every other household on their block.“We’re calling down the atmosphere of heaven on earth for every person on the block,” Sunseri said.
Thus far, 86 families have declared their home to be a “House of Peace.” At the online prayer meeting, Sunseri prayed for a tenfold increase to 840 houses in the region.
To participate, individuals are asked to dedicate their home as a “House of Peace”; adopt their block and pray for peace in each home on that block; and attach an orange ribbon somewhere outside the home denoting that it is a House of Peace. Yard signs are also available. In fact, Our Lady of Prompt Succor has displayed a yard sign.
Sunseri said HollyKem selected the color orange because it connected to unity and the flame of the Holy Spirit.
Fruitfulness realized
Sunseri noted wonderful experiences already reaped from this effort. He mentioned how after a Kenner resident put an orange ribbon on her door, a Muslim neighbor inquired what it meant.“She weeped because she didn’t know someone was praying for her,” Sunseri said. “It was a beautiful moment.”
The House of Peace movement has set the heart of St. Pius X parishioner Yvette Hale on fire at a time when she was ready to leave New Orleans. She said she and her husband Robert have been on a spiritual journey with the Sunseris and have witnessed the saving power of prayer.
Their home is a House of Peace.
“Our city needs help,” Hale said. “Every morning, I pray with my husband,” she said. “We pray Manresa prayers, and we pray the rosary and pray and meditate on the Gospel. In my head, I go around my cul-de-sac – I know their names – and pray for my neighbors.”
Hale said when a person prays for others, it is a mission of the church.
“Love becomes the conversion factor that can transform our city, our country, our block,” Hale said. “I can transmit that to my neighbor, and that neighbor can be transformed by that and bring that to his family, his employer, his co-workers. It breaks the boundaries of religion through love. That is how, I think, Jesus wants to come back.
“It’s this love of God that opens hearts and gives them ears to hear. How hard is that to spread? Who is going to turn that down in this city right now?”
Sunseri believes God loves a challenge and is answering prayers.
“Certainly, our region is a challenge, but it’s not too big for the Lord to do something,” he said. “We have faith in that. It happens in the spirit first. We’re going to be trailblazers and continue to pound on heaven and heaven pound on earth to see (crime) move in a positive direction.”
To join the online prayer mornings, visit https://facebook.com/groups/nolashalom. For a short video on the Sunseris’ House of Peace ministry, visit https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rlSi_SBNOeE or contact Sunseri at [email protected].