Mass to be held in remembrance of slain journalist

Mass to be held in remembrance of slain journalist

A mass in remembrance of U.S journalist James Foley has been scheduled for Sunday in Rochester. The memorial Mass will be held on Oct. 18, on what would have been his 41st birthday.

A mass in remembrance of U.S journalist James Foley has been scheduled for Sunday in Rochester. The memorial Mass will be held on Oct. 18, on what would have been his 41st birthday

The Foley family said a Holy Mass of “Healing, Hope and for Peace” is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on 189 North Main St.

Foley was abducted in 2012 and held for nearly two years by Islamic terrorists. He was kidnapped on Thanksgiving Day 2012 while covering the Syrian uprising.

The U.S. launched a raid this summer to rescue Foley and other hostages, but Special Forces were unable to locate the captives.

Islamic militants posted a video showing his beheading on Tuesday and said they killed him because the U.S. had launched airstrikes in northern Iraq.

President Obama has called Foley a hero for telling the stories of oppressed people in war-torn regions like Syria and Libya.

At a vigil Saturday night in Rochester, about 200 people gathered to show support for the Foley family. Foley’s parents, John and Diane Foley attended.

“We are honored that you care and love Jim. We are honored that you recognized the sacrifices he made,” John Foley said. “He loved the Syrian people. He was devoted to telling their story and doing whatever he could to help their fight.”

Foley was praised for his determination to report on the Syrian people uprooted by conflict.

“Tonight we want to honor freedom and love: the freedom that James so vehemently believed that all people deserved,” said Nadia Alawa, founder of NuDay Syria, a Massachusetts-based organization working to ease the pain and loss in Syria.

“To James Foley, denying others freedom and a basic voice of feelings and free space was not OK.”

She also condemned the campaign of terror and violence carried out by the terrorist organization.

 

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