Healthy Roslindale Coalition Hosts Fifth Annual Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness

by Terry Curran

Five years ago, several murders of women in the Roslindale neighborhood prompted the Healthy Roslindale Coalition to form a Domestic Violence Task Force. On Thursday, October 11, a group of approximately 50 interested parties met at the Roslindale Congregational Church for this year’s Candlelight Vigil against Domestic Violence. The program was opened by drummer, Della Gelzer beating away to a solitary rhythm. Opening remarks were given by Cathy Slade, the director of Healthy Roslindale. She welcomed the various clergy, politicians, police departments, her Rossie Reps Youth Council, and concerned neighbors. Cathy called for more community partnership to stop the flow of domestic violence in our neighborhood.

At the back and front of the church were silhouettes, part of the Silent Witness Project of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence (Waltham). The Silent Witness Project is a nationwide traveling exhibit of free-standing, life-size red wooden silhouettes. Each witness represents a woman, child, or man who was murdered in Massachusetts due to acts of intimate partner violence. Each silhouette has the name and the story of the person on its breast shield. Because these individuals no longer have a voice, the silhouettes are called Silent Witnesses. The goal of the Silent Witness Project is to eliminate all domestic violence-related homicides in the country by the year 2010.

In the opening prayer, Rev. Sally Thatcher of the Roslindale Congregational Church implored God to “heal those who use violence to solve their problems.” She encouraged all to “speak of the love in our hearts and in our minds.” The next speaker was Antonia Chronis of the Department of Social Services and Healthy Roslindale Coalition. She remarked that we all have been touched by abuse. That abuse comes in all forms: physical, emotional, sexual, and financial, and we need to watch for the signs of all forms. Statistics show that children who witness violence in the home are adversely affected.

A group from the Rossie Reps then performed a skit. Natalie Desruisseaux, Nicky McGuffie and Aniela Petani were “girlfriends” and Will Romain played the part of the school counselor. The girls started discussing how they felt about another friend’s boyfriend who was controlling her and abusing her. When they confronted her and told her his behavior was wrong, she got all defensive and said everything was fine. The girls’ solution to this problem was to head to the guidance counselor’s office and ask for help. The counselor thanked them for coming in and bringing the problem to his attention and told them he would be right on it. The Rossie Reps have had training in “healthy relationships” and are very aware of what is proper behavior in a relationship.

These workshops not only help the religious educators manage their classrooms better and allow them to be more productive, they also offer opportunities for personal growth. Those teaching CCD should make themselves available for the Conference when it rolls around next year; is a day well worth investing time in.