Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina

Execution of Brent Brewer (6PM in TX) - Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Us
2023-11-09 15:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
A group of faithful Catholics, concerned with the redemption of those being executed, and their victims, will gather via Zoom on this day as we do on each day there is an execution in the United States. We do so because we may be the only ones praying for the soul of that person about to be put to death by the state. You are invited to join us. Go to our Contact Form and let us know you want to be added to our email list to receive the Zoom link.

Please note: In the case of a last-minute reprieve or stay, the host will delete the Zoom link and no further notice will be provided. You can keep track of the status of executions by clicking here.

Execution of David Renteria (6PM in TX) - Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Us
2023-11-16 15:00 - 15:30

Execution of Casey McWhorter (CST - AL) – Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Us
2023-11-16 15:00 - 15:30
We will pray for both Mr. Renteria, his victim, and Mr. McWhorter, and his victim at the same time on November 16th. You are invited to join us. Go to our Contact Form and let us know you want to be added to our email list to receive the Zoom link.

There are four executions in the month of November. Please join CANC director, members, and friends for a 15-minute prayer vigil on November 21 to end the death penalty in NC and around the nation.

Please note: In the case of a last-minute reprieve or stay, the host will delete the Zoom link and no further notice will be provided. You can keep track of the status of executions by clicking here.

Third Tuesday Prayer Vigil to End the Death Penalty in North Carolina & the U.S.
2023-11-21 12:00 - 12:30
Join Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina as we gather to pray on the third Tuesday of this and every month to abolish the death penalty in NC and around the U.S. We meet online at Noon for a 15-minute, non-interactive prayer vigil. (Please remain muted during the vigil.) You can receive the link for the vigil by signing up on our Contact Us

Execution of Phillip Hancock (10AM in OK) – Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with Us
2023-11-30 15:00 - 15:30

March with CANC at the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Event - Saturday, December 2nd
2023-12-02 13:00 - 14:30
Please join CANC and other Coalition members and friends working to abolish the death penalty in North Carolina. Upcoming 2024 elections could reverse the current cessation of executions. Make your voice heard – NOW before it’s too late!

Third Tuesday of December - Monthly Prayer to End the Death Penalty
2023-12-19 12:00 - 12:30
Please join us online at Noon for a 15-minute, non-interactive prayer vigil. (Please remain muted during the vigil.) You can receive the link for the vigil by signing up on our Contact Us form or by writing to director@catholicsforabolitionnc.org.

Christmas Caroling Outside Central Prison!
2023-12-25 10:00 - 11:00
On December 25 at 10 a.m. the Fr. Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker House will continue their tradition of “Visiting the Prisoners” as they, and many others along with CANC, gather at Central Prison to sing carols. The tradition began on Christmas morning in 1997. Come help hold the original 30-foot wide MERRY CHRISTMAS sign and bring Good Cheer to the “captives,” who cannot receive visits for Christmas.

No matter the temperature – meet under the train trestle next to the prison grounds. Bring your family and friends, young and old! Write to director@catholicsforabolitionnc.org if you have questions.

Seven Sorrows of Our Lady - Rosary to End the Death Penalty
2023-12-29 12:30 - 13:00
Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina is offering an opportunity for our members and all Catholics in the Diocese of Raleigh to join in an online recitation of the ROSARY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS for the intention of ending the death penalty in NC, the US, and the world. Join us on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29th at 12:30pm. An on-screen rosary and access to the prayers and corresponding scripture will be shared. You need only bring yourself!

Let us offer our prayers through the intercession of our Blessed Mother who accompanied her Precious Son to His execution on Good Friday. (Fourth & Fifth Sorrows of Our Lady)

Email director@catholicsforabolitionnc.org to receive the Zoom link for this prayer vigil.

Diocesan Rosary & Mass for Life
2024-01-13 10:30 - 12:00
Last year, Catholics for Abolition in NC attended our first Raleigh Diocesan Mass for Life together. Please join us this month to pray the rosary and be a part of this annual Mass for Life. It is bilingual and will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, 715 Nazareth St., Raleigh, NC. The rosary begins at 10:30AM, and Mass with Bishop Luis Zarama starts at 11:00AM.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for Kenneth E. Smith (AL) & Victim
2024-01-25 15:30 - 16:00
Please join members and friends of Catholics for Abolition in NC as we come together via Zoom to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Kenneth Smith and his victim Elizabeth Sennett. Please use the Contact Form to request the Zoom link for Thursday, the 25th. All are welcome!

Parish Book Group - St. Francis of Assisi - February 19 through March 25 (Daytime)
2024-02-19 13:00 - 14:30
Dignity & the Death Penalty: Evolution of Catholic Teaching is based on the reflections of Sr. Helen Prejean, long-time death penalty activist. This short but powerful book takes you through Catholic Social Teaching and the Church’s progression from its earlier stand on the death penalty to the 2018 revision of Catechism #2267 by Pope Francis: “… the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”

The group will be facilitated by Nancy J Jones, Director of Catholics for Abolition in NC. If you are a St. Francis parishioner, please sign up for this virtual book group, by sending an email to director@catholicsforabolitionnc.org.

If you are in the Raleigh diocese and would like an online book group facilitated for your parish, your OSF fraternity, Knights of Columbus, Pro-Life Ministry, or just with a group of friends, please go to the Contact Us page, choose Requesting a Book Group Leader from the drop-down and send us your request. We look forward to hearing from you.

Third Tuesday of February - Monthly Prayer to End the Death Penalty
2024-02-20 12:00 - 12:15

Parish Book Group - St. Francis of Assisi - February 21 through March 27 (Evenings)
2024-02-21 19:00 - 20:30

NC Racial Justice Act (RJA) Hearing for Hasson Bacote Begins!
2024-02-26 10:00 - 2024-03-08 17:00
Please read and share the additional RJA stories that came out this past week:

NBC News: North Carolina hearing over alleged racial bias in jury selection could upend death sentences; NC Newsline: Lawyers to argue death penalty is ‘a legacy of racial terrorism’ – if NC Supreme Court lets them; WRAL: Johnston County hearing could revive controversial Racial Justice Act claims in NC; WRAL: NC man fights death sentence, challenges jury’s alleged racial bias

WRAL will livestream the hearing every day this first week!

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Souls of Ivan Cantu (TX) & Thomas Creech (ID)
2024-02-28 15:00 - 15:30
Please join Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina (CANC) as we take 15 minutes to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet via Zoom for the soul of Ivan Cantu, his victims and for Thomas Creech and his victims.. Each time there is an execution in the U.S., CANC’s faithful members and friends sign on to pray this special chaplet for souls who are often forgotten in prayer.

If you want to receive the Zoom link, email the director on the Contact Us page. All you need is a rosary and the prayers to the chaplet will be attached to the email with the Zoom link. One of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to pray for the dying and for the dead. Please join us if you can!

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community this Weekend - Write a Postcard to Gov. Roy Cooper!
2024-03-09 17:30 - 2024-03-10 18:30
The St. Francis of Assisi parish members of Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina – a diocesan-wide anti-death penalty group – will be in the Stewardship Center after all masses this weekend. We are providing an opportunity for anyone interested to write a postcard to the governor expressing your opposition to capital punishment. This is part of a state-wide Commutation Campaign started by the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.

Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady to End the Death Penalty - Third Fridays of the Month @ 1:00 PM
2024-03-15 13:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-19 13:00 - 13:30
Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina is offering an opportunity for our members and all Catholics in the Diocese of Raleigh to join in an online recitation of the ROSARY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS for the intention of commuting NC death sentences and abolishing the death penalty in our state. Join us on FRIDAY, March 15th at 1:00 PM. An on-screen rosary and access to the prayers and corresponding scripture will be shared. You need only bring yourself!

Let us offer our prayers through the intercession of our Blessed Mother who accompanied her Precious Son to His execution on Good Friday. (Fourth & Fifth Sorrows of Our Lady)

Email director@catholicsforabolitionnc.org to receive the Zoom link for this prayer vigil or go to our Contact page to send your request.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for Willie James Pye (GA) and His Victim
2024-03-20 15:30 - 16:00
Join members and friends of Catholics for Abolition in NC as we come together virtually to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Willie James Pye and his victim Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. Please use the Contact Form to request the Zoom link for Thursday, the 20th. All are welcome to pray for these souls. Chaplet prayers will be provided with the Zoom link.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for Michael Smith (OK) and His Victims
2024-04-04 15:00 - 15:30
Join members and friends of Catholics for Abolition in NC as we come together virtually to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Michael DeWayne Smith and his victims Janet Moore and Sharath Pulluru. Please use the Contact Form to request the Zoom link for Thursday, the 4th. All are welcome to pray for these souls. Chaplet prayers will be provided with the Zoom link.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for Brian Dorsey (MO) and Victims
2024-04-09 15:00 - 15:30
Join members and friends of Catholics for Abolition in NC as we come together virtually to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Brian Dorsey and his victims Sarah & Ben Bonnie. Please use the Contact Form to request the Zoom link for Tuesday, the 9th. All are welcome to pray for these souls. Chaplet prayers will be provided with the Zoom link.

Seven Sorrows Chaplet - Third Fridays each Month
2024-05-17 13:00 - 13:30
Join members of Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina as we pray the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady chaplet at 1:00PM. We pray this special prayer, requested by the Virgin Mary, centuries ago, for our intention of ending the death penalty in NC and around the nation.

You do not need the chaplet rosary itself or the prayers, as we follow a beautiful version of it online together. Go to the Contact Us tab to request the Zoom link for this Friday and each subsequent third Friday of the month. This chaplet will take about a half hour. Join us if you can!

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Souls of Jamie R. Mills (AL) and for his Victims
2024-05-30 15:30 - 16:00
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Jamie R. Mills – to be executed in Alabama – and for the souls of his victims Vera and Floyd Hill. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for May 30th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Soul of David R. Hosier (MO) and his Victim
2024-06-11 15:00 - 15:30
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of David Hosier – to be executed in Missouri – and for the soul of his victim Angela Gilpin. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for June 11th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided. Newcomers are always welcome to this informal yet powerful 15-minutes of prayer.

Seven Sorrows Chaplet - Third Fridays each Month
2024-06-21 13:00 - 13:30
Join members of Catholics for Abolition in North Carolina as we pray the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady chaplet at 1:00PM. We pray this special prayer, requested by the Virgin Mary, centuries ago, for our intention of ending the death penalty in NC and around the nation.

You do not need the chaplet rosary itself or the prayers, as we follow a beautiful online version of it together. Go to the Contact Us tab to request the Zoom link for this Friday and each subsequent third Friday of the month. (Click on Other in the list of options.) This chaplet will take about a half hour. Join us if you can!

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Soul of Ramiro Gonzalez (TX) and for his Victim
2024-06-26 15:00 - 15:30
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Ramiro Gonzalez – to be executed in Texas – and for the soul of his victim Bridget Townsend. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for June 26th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided when the Zoom link is emailed to you. Newcomers are always welcome to this informal yet powerful 15-minutes of prayer.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Soul of Richard N. Rojem, Jr. (OK) and his Victim
2024-06-27 15:00 - 15:30
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Richard N. Rojem, Jr. – to be executed in Oklahoma – and for the soul of his victim Layla Dawn Cummings. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for June 27th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided when the Zoom link is emailed to you. Newcomers are always welcome to this informal yet powerful 15-minutes of prayer.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Soul of Ruben Gutierrez (TX) and for his Victim
2024-07-16 15:30 - 16:00
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Ruben Gutierrez – to be executed in Texas – and for the soul of his victim Escolastica Harrison. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for July 16th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided when the Zoom link is emailed to you. Newcomers are always welcome to this informal yet powerful 15-minutes of prayer.

Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Souls of Keith Edmund Gavin (AL) and for his Victim
2024-07-18 15:00 - 15:30
Please join CANC Members and Friends as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the soul of Keith Edmund Gavin – to be executed in Alabama – and for the soul of his victim William Clinton Clayton, Jr. Go to our Contact Form and request the Zoom link for July 18th. Prayers for the Chaplet will be provided along with the link to sign in.
