Candlelight Vigil to Honor Domestic Abuse Victims

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and other local churches and community organizations are inviting residents to a candlelight vigil in memory of women from the area who have lost their lives to domestic abuse.

Seven Twin Cities women were murdered by their husbands or boyfriends between Jan. 1 and June 6, according to the church.

“Domestic abuse is not a private issue; it is a public issue that affects our entire community. Ending violence in the home—the place where we should feel the most safe and secure—is the responsibility of each of us,” a news release stated. “To stop domestic abuse, we need to start talking about it, bring it into the light of day and proclaim zero tolerance for abuse of women, children and men.

The vigil takes place at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph (7180 Hemlock Lane North, Maple Grove). It will include reflection, music, scripture, stories from survivors and a message of hope. After the service, there will be light refreshments, resource materials and time for fellowship and support.

The vigil is open to the community.

Other events happening this week:

• ‘Mac McKenzie’ Author to Speak: David Housewright—author of Curse of the Jade Lily, The Last Kind Word and other Mac McKenzie mysteries—will discuss his books Monday during the Maple Grove Library’s Murder on Main Street Author Talk. Housewright won the Edgar Award and the 2013 Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. His McKenzie novels feature a protagonist who’s both a millionaire, an unlicensed PI and a former detective for the St. Paul Police Department. The talk, sponsored by Friends of the Maple Grove Library, starts at 6:30 p.m. A Q&A will follow.
• Craft Show Coming This Weekend: The Maple Grove Women of Today’s 2013 Fall Festival Craft Show takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Maple Grove Community Center. There will be more than 90 booths with crafts and other products.