On Monday, June 1 at 4 p.m. Rev. Sharon Gracen observed a Day of Lament and Mourning on the steps of Trinity Episcopal Church of Branford for all in Branford who have died from COVID-19. Gracen also prayed for "the common bond of humanity" and breaking of "the shackles of racism" to help bring peace, understanding and healing to communities around the country at this critical time of unrest.

The Trinity Church carillon on the Branford green tolled for the town's 39 lives lost; part of what Gracen said was the original intent of the day's program -- to join with clergy around the nation who felt the call to recognize the lives lost in their communities due to COVID-19; and the sorrow of families and friends who couldn't property grieve due to the restrictions of the pandemic.

"Religious leaders from different denominations around the country were calling for this,  because we have had this backlog of grief that's been unexpressed and unacknowledged – so this is an ache in our collective hearts. The call for that really came through in the past week," said Gracen.

But then, in the time leading up the planned Day of Lament and Mourning, the nationwide Black Lives Matter outrage and peaceful protests began, sparked by the senseless death of George Floyd on May 25 caused by four Minneapolis MN police.

"We don't live in a vacuum, and we cannot talk about this [COVID-19] grief and not acknowledge this searing grief and pain that we are feeling as a nation," said Gracen. "I thought I would not be doing my job as a priest if I ignored that. There needs to be a way to speak this grief."

The brief ceremony gathered about 20 on the green, standing a safe distance apart and wearing facial masks. View a video of the ceremony here  or visit the Trinity Church of Branford Facebook page.