OAKLAND — Amidst a sea of white crosses, a memorial service was held at St. Columba Catholic Church on Sunday to commemorate the 126 lives lost to homicides in the city this year.
The church’s mission, as stated on their website, is to display crosses on their front lawn as a source of comfort for the families of Oakland homicide victims and to draw community attention to the issue of violence in our streets and the need for additional resources to address the problem.
Oakland Police chaplain Father Jayson Landeza carried a cross for Oakland Police officer Tuan Le, who was killed on duty on Dec. 29th while responding to a cannabis dispensary robbery near the Embarcadero. Mayor Sheng Thao and others spoke during the ceremony.
For the last fourteen years, St. Columba’s has commemorated Oakland’s homicide victims by placing a cross with the person’s name in the front garden of the church.
The killing of officer Le was the 126th homicide investigated by Oakland police this year. Last year at this time, police had investigated 119 homicides in the city.
Oakland Police deputy chief James Beere points towards the 126 crosses while speaking during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Police chaplain Father Jayson Landeza holds the cross of Oakland Police officer Tuan Le during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Officer Le was killed two days ago on Dec. 29th. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Alex Tom, of Oakland, stands with his son Collin Tom, 9, while attending a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland mayor Sheng Thao pauses while remembering Oakland Police officer Tuan Le during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A cross bearing the name Jennifer who was killed on Feb. 9th is on display in the rose garden during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland mayor Sheng Thao and Father Aidan McAleenan carry crosses into the church during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington greets Father Aidan McAleenan during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A Christmas nativity statue appears to look down at the wooden crosses during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
A woman lowers her head as speakers read the names of 126 victims during a memorial service to commemorate the lives lost to homicides in Oakland this year at St. Columba Catholic Church in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)