A special commemorative service was held on Thursday, October 5 at St Andrew's Cathedral for those affected by the Las Vegas massacre at the weekend.

US Consul General Valerie FowlerThe deadliest mass shooting in modern US history left 58 people dead and another 500 people wounded from gunshots to stampede injuries in the centre of Las Vegas.

 The Dean, Kanishka Raffel welcomed the US Consul General Valerie Fowler to the Cathedral.

"We mourn the tragic death of innocent people, made in God's image and precious in his sight, killed in an act of senseless violence," the Dean said. "We mourn with those who are maimed or injured through this reckless act of evil."

The Consul General read from John 9 (the healing of the blind man), after thanking the congregation and the people of New South Wales for their support in this difficult time.

Archbishop Davies, who gave the address, described the shock of the US and Australia at such carnage.

"We know who is to blame. Our heartfelt question is why?" Dr Davies said. "While there are questions we cannot answer about the events in Las Vegas, the healing of the blind man means we can say, Jesus is the one who cures the disorder in our world, and in our hearts."

Archbishop Davies speaking to the congregation Beneath the pulpit stood the Australian and American flags and after a program which included an African-American spiritual and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, the service closed with the American National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner.

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