Open-House Meeting
Meet Reverend Sharon Risher
Come hear Reverend Risher's journey of healing, from confusion and hate to forgiveness.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
7:30 p.m.
St. Joseph University Parish Church
3269 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214
Event held in the church.
A Story Of Transformation
A journey shaped by grief, faith, and forgiveness
In 2015, Reverend Sharon Risher lost her mother, Ethel Lance, and two cousins in the racist mass shooting at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Since then, she has become an outspoken advocate for gun violence prevention with Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. When her mother's killer was sentenced to death, Reverend Risher also became a powerful voice against the death penalty. She is a past board member of Death Penalty Action and a deeply valued supporter of the WNY Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
Her story traces the path of an anonymous hospital chaplain who was thrust into the national spotlight, then found strength alongside other survivors. As she recounts grief and the struggle to forgive, she shares how faith, God's loving presence, and trust in God's timing guided her forward.
In Buffalo
Reverend Risher will meet with families affected by the 5/14 racist mass shooting.
Reverend Risher will be in Buffalo to meet with families affected by the May 14, 2022 racist mass shooting. All are welcome to join this evening of reflection, solidarity, and hope.