NEWTOWN—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will be the celebrant and homilist at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown this Thursday, December 14, 7:30 pm to remember those who lost their lives as a result of the Sandy Hook School shooting.
The Mass will mark the 5th anniversary of the school shooting, which took the lives of 20 Newtown children and six adults shortly before Christmas on December 14, 2012.
“I know this will be a most difficult day for many of us, so please let us join together in prayer and love,” said Msgr. Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima, who will concelebrate the Mass with Bishop Caggiano.
“As a community we captured the hearts of the world who responded to us in ways too many to even begin to count and for which we will be forever grateful. The world joins us once again on this day five years later to remember and to pray,” said Msgr. Weiss.
Msgr. Weiss said the Church will be open throughout the day and that morning Masses in honor of all those who died will be celebrated at 6:45 am and 9 am.
“If parishioners are not able to join us for one of the Masses, we hope they will stop by throughout the day to say a prayer or light a candle. May the God of compassion continue to show us the way to healing,” Msgr. Weiss said.
Eight children who were parishioners of St. Rose perished in the shootings: Daniel Barden, 7; Olivia Engel, 6; Josephine Gay, 7; Catherine Hubbard, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Grace McDonnell, 7; Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6.
“Five years ago we experienced a day of deep darkness. The souls of so many were challenged so deeply… No matter how deep the pain, there is a gift that no one can take from us: hope is born in the power of the love of God,” said the bishop.
The Mass of remembrance is open to all. St. Rose of Lima Church is located at 46 Church Hill Road in Newtown.
