Prayers for a critically shot police officer

Prayers for a critically shot police officer

I don't normally blog about everyone I'm praying for, because every day you can see in the newspaper or TV all too many people suffering in dire straits. But I am praying, and want to profile this young man so that the wonderful example of interfaith prayer can be elevated.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/2007/07/12/2007-07-12_untitled__2medical12m-1.html
A mother's sobs and the prayers of a Russian Orthodox priest echoed through an intensive care unit yesterday as the family of critically wounded Police Officer Russel Timoshenko hoped for a miracle.
For nearly half an hour, Archpriest George Kallaur prayed at the young cop's bedside in Kings County Hospital while Timoshenko lay hooked to a battery of life-sustaining machines - and his mother wept openly for her only child.
Then Kallaur asked the parents to leave the room, and for 20 minutes he performed what's called a "deaf and blind confession" for the unconscious officer.
"I thought I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye in the arm area," he said. "It could have been my hopeful thinking. But I hope not."
snip
Hours later, he went to the hospital to tell the family one of the suspects had been caught. Outside the 71st Precinct, 150 Orthodox Jews held a prayer vigil for Timoshenko, even though he is of a different faith.
"The Jewish community is in pain," said Rabbi Shea Hecht, who led the service. "I'm hoping they're going to lock three people up for a very long time."
An officer watching from the steps said all the cops were grateful for any prayers. "It means a lot," he said.
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Blessings for the Orthodox Jews who have taken the time and care to pray for him, a great mitzvah. Blessings and prayers for the young man, his family, his priest, his fellow officers, and for all the honest police around the world who strive and sacrifice to keep everyone safer.