Community Vigil for Remembrance and Resilience Hosted by Institute for Spirituality and Health and Rothko Chapel on July 15
MEDIA ALERT
WHO:
The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center, in partnership with Rothko Chapel, will host a community vigil in honor of the lives lost, the families devastated, and the communities forever changed by the catastrophic floods that struck Central Texas on July 4.
“As we stand witness to this unimaginable loss, we gather to grieve and to remind one another that healing is possible when we come together in compassion and solidarity,” said Stuart Nelson, president of the Institute for Spirituality and Health. “We offer this vigil as a sacred space for remembering, for comforting one another, and for lifting up hope.”
Trained grief counselors and mental health professionals will be present to provide guidance, emotional support, and a listening ear for anyone in need. These caring experts are a part of the Institute’s Greater Houston Healing Collaborative (GHHC). The GHHC network of trained facilitators, mental health professionals, spiritual leaders, and community partners provide psychosocial and spiritual care in the wake of collective trauma. They are equipped to help individuals process their emotions, begin healing from trauma, and connect to additional resources if desired.
For media inquiries, please contact Pennino and Partners (details below).
WHAT:
Community Vigil for Remembrance and Resilience
This free, in-person vigil is open to all who wish to gather in remembrance and community. The evening will include remarks from community and spiritual leaders; the reading of victims’ names with moments of silence; and shared reflections from family members and friends of those impacted. Faith leaders will offer spiritual readings and prayers. There will be a musical tribute and communal singing. The ceremony will conclude with a candlelight ritual and words of comfort to nurture collective healing.
WHEN:
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
5:30 to 6:45 p.m. CT
WHERE:
Rothko Chapel
3900 Yupon St
Houston, Texas 77006
HOW TO HELP: In the wake of this tragedy, the Institute for Spirituality and Health invites the public to support ongoing efforts to care for the emotional and spiritual well-being of affected communities. Donations and messages of support will directly aid the Institute’s trauma response efforts through the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative, including the deployment of trained facilitators and grief counselors to shelters, schools, and faith communities across Texas.
To learn more or contribute, please visit: https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/ghhcresponse2025
About the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
The Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith organization that has championed whole-person care since its founding in 1955. A founding member of the Texas Medical Center, the Institute has become a global leader at the intersection of spirituality, health, and community well-being. For seven decades, it has trained and empowered healthcare professionals, faith leaders, and community members to integrate spiritual care into health settings.
The Institute for Spirituality and Health's mission is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. It advances this mission through education, research, and direct service programs, guided by its four centers of excellence: the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals, the Center for Body, Spirit, and Mind, the Center for End-of-Life and Aging, and the Center for Faith and Public Health.
For more information about the Institute, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/.
About the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative
The Greater Houston Healing Collaborative (GHHC) programs and initiatives teach participants about the interconnectedness of body, spirit, and mind. GHHC provides tools to reduce chronic stress and address symptoms of the trauma response by sharing self-regulation techniques to enhance individual and community well-being. GHHC’s active network of trained and certified facilitators lead virtual and in-person mind-body skills groups and workshops, underscoring the Institute’s dedication to addressing the psycho-social needs of the most at-risk and historically underserved communities, and faith communities in multiple languages with diverse cultures and traditions. For more information about the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/ghhc.
Media Contacts:
Laura Pennino, Senior PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 713-419-1776 mobile | lp@penninoandpartners.com
MaKlay Simon, PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 325-262-1862 mobile | maklay@penninoandpartners.com