You are reading

Acting Queens BP to Host Virtual Interfaith Vigil to Honor COVID-19 Victims and Frontline Workers

(Image: Echo Grid via Unsplash)

April 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan

Queens elected officials and local religious figures from various faiths are coming together to host a virtual vigil Tuesday to honor residents who have died due to COVID-19 and the borough’s frontline and essential workers battling the pandemic.

The Queens Virtual Interfaith Vigil will be hosted by Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee on April 21, at 5 p.m. It will feature at least eleven religious leaders who will join together and pray for the victims and workers who continue to put their lives at risk by treating the sick or ensuring essential services remain operating.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz,  New York Attorney General Letitia James are some of the names co-hosting the event.

State Senators Joseph Addabbo, Mike Gianaris Jessica Ramos as well as Council Members Costa Constantinides, Danny Dromm, Robert Holden and Francisco Moya are also listed as participants.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • – Imam Shamsi Ali of the Jamaica Muslim Center
  • – Reverend Dr. John Boyd, II of New Greater Bethel Ministries
  • – Father Joseph Fonti of The Church of St. Mel
  • – Pastor Ben Hur of Promise Church
  • – Dr. Neeta Jain of International Ahimsa Foundation, Inc.
  • – Rabbi Mark Kaiserman of The Reform Temple of Forest Hills
  • – Gurdev Singh Kang of the Sikh Cultural Society
  • – Father Mike Lopez of All Saints Priory Missionary Benedictines of the Poor
  • – Rabbi Yossi Mendelsohn of Congregation Machane Chodosh
  • – Dr. Uma Mysorekar of the Hindu Temple Society of North America
  • – Venerable Youwang Shih of the International Buddhist Progress Society

The borough president is asking attendees/viewers to RSVP by clicking on this link or by calling 718-286-2661.  For live broadcast information visit queensbp.org/interfaithvigal

More than 2,600 Queens residents have lost their lives to COVID-19 and close to 40,000 Queens residents have been infected with the virus since the outbreak began, according to the latest official figures.

 

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Catch the fall vibe at these western Queens breweries

Sep. 3, 2025 By Jessica Militello

September rings in the start of Oktoberfest from mid-September through October, featuring special brews, fun events and more fall fun. Western Queens is filled with breweries to enjoy seasonal brews, fall flavors and the start of cooler weather as Autumn approaches, making it a perfect time to meet up with friends at these local spaces.

Op-Ed | Four years after Hurricane Ida, Queens deserves real climate resilience

Sep. 2, 2025 By Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas

Four years ago, Hurricane Ida tore through our neighborhoods of East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights, leaving behind devastation we will never forget. We lost neighbors to the floodwaters. Families saw their homes destroyed, their basements wiped out, their lives upended. Immigrant families—so many of them undocumented—were hit the hardest, often excluded from relief altogether. Ida was not just a storm; it was a wake-up call.

Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.