LIVERPOOL — Nearly 500 family friends and fellow parishioners attended an ecumenical prayer service for healing on Thursday evening, Feb. 10, at Pope John 23rd Roman Catholic Church off Soule Road, in the town of Clay.
The crowded church heard from eight different clerks and clerics reading scripture passages to help support gunshot victim Karen Eames and her surviving son, Andrew.
Eames, who works as a secretary at Liverpool High School, was shot Feb. 7 at her Brewerton home, and her 21-year-old son, Troy, was killed.
Sheriff’s investigators determined that one of their own – civil deputy Isaac Eames, 47 – had shot his wife and son with his service weapon, a .45-caliber Glock.
After several days in intensive care, Karen Eames’ condition was upgraded from critical to stable. She had been shot twice, once in the arm and once in the face.
Father Zach Miller, who spoke at the service, reported that he’d visited her in the hospital and found her in a relatively good mood.
Miller, who’s the church’s pastor, reflected on the fact that we may never know what caused this family tragedy.
“There may be no way of saying exactly what has happened,” Miller said. “But we look for the healing of helping us to be one and to process and to grow through this.”
Others who spoke echoed that theme.
Pope John Church Deacon Michael Ruf, read a few lines by sociologist-poet Dorcas Cheng: “Life is short…it’s a rugged road full of unexpected storms; it’s tough to trudge through troubles.”
Miller pointed out that several different religious traditions were represented at the service, Catholic and Protestant united in a healing effort.
“Listen, listen to one another,” Miller preached. “Know that we’re not alone. We’re traveling together as a Liverpool community.”
The 40-minute service opened with a vigorous version of “Let It Be” as church musical director, pianist Chris Kennedy, directed the choir while her husband, John Kennedy, filled in on guitar.
The Rev. Garrett Anderson, pastor of Liverpool’s First Presbyterian Church, said the opening prayer, and the Rev. Dan O’Hara of Liverpool’s joint Epihany parishes read from the gospel of St. Matthew.
Others who spoke included the church’s pastoral associate of education, Amy Wojcikowski, the Rev. William Bartholomew of the United Church of Christ, and the Most Rev. Daniel Lucia, Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse.
During the service, attendees jotted down brief messages of support for the Eames family, and the notes were collected to be delivered to Karen and Andrew.
As the service concluded, the choir sang Bill Withers’ soul song, “Lean on Me” with these lyrics:
Lean on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.
Meanwhile, Eames’ sister, Annette Cittadino, established a GoFundMe site to raise money for the family.
