NEWTOWN—“We gather for the eighth time this night to remember one of the most horrific events in this community, and certainly in this country and even our world,” said Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown at last evening’s Memorial Mass for the 26 students and teachers who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“We made a pledge on that day that we would never forget but that we would hold these 26 in prayer and thought, as well as their families. So once again, tonight, we gather to remember.”
With in-person attendance limited as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, most mourners participated in the solemn remembrance online. Some of the young people in attendance were family members and classmates of those who lost their lives in 2012.
Msgr. Weiss read the names of each of the students and teachers as a bell tolled and students brought an ornament down the aisle of the church to be placed on a Christmas tree by the altar. “Let us pause in remembrance,” said Msgr. Weiss, after all 26 ornaments were placed on the tree.
“Certainly, this pandemic has changed so much in our lives,” said Monsignor. “Normally the Church would be full on a night like this, with people so deeply touched by this tragedy. And yet, even though the physical presence is not here, we know that their hearts and their prayers are, and so we gather as a community once again…praying for healing, for hope and for the strength and peace we need.”
Fittingly, Deacon Mike Ronan read from the Gospel of Mark, “Let the children come to me” (Mark 10:13-15).
Msgr. Weiss recalled eight years ago, when not only was the church filled to capacity, but there were over 2,000 people standing outside.
“People just needed to be somewhere, needed to be together, trying to understand, show support, lift up spirits,” Monsignor reflected. “Even though it was dark, so many candles were lit that the darkness was being dispelled rather quickly, and we were holding on to whatever hope we thought we had left.”
“The same feeling comes over you on a night like this,” said Monsignor. “What words do you use? How do we talk about healing? How do we talk about compassion? How do we talk about love? Well, the beauty was we didn’t talk about it, we lived it. And we continue to live in that spirit, because darkness brings the best out of us when we choose to be in the light.”
Monsignor explained that he thought for sure this tragedy was going to change the world. “I thought this was going to change peoples’ attitudes about gun violence, this was going to put an end to everything, especially thinking these twenty little innocent children were taken at Christmastime.”
“But it didn’t make the change,” Monsignor lamented. “It changed the hearts and minds of some. But as we look at the headlines the past few days, and they give out numbers that are astronomical of the people who continue to die at the hands of gun violence every day in this country, in this state, we have to ask ourselves what are we to do, how do we bring about that change that we so desperately need?”
Monsignor mourned the potential that existed in every one of the twenty children represented by the angel ornaments on the tree.
“They never had a chance to share that,” he said. “But what they did share with us were incredible stories of sweet little children, who in their innocence taught us so many important lessons in life, lessons that we will never forget and that is the gift that God gave us out of this sadness…a legacy of twenty beautiful young children and six incredible adults. It challenged us to use well the gifts and the talents God has given us to build up rather than to tear down.”
Monsignor addressed the students gathered, saying that he remembered so many of them from years ago. “It was a difficult and challenging time,” he said, “but it was a time to grow closer together and to open our hearts and minds to what really matters—and that’s the preciousness of the gift of life, and that we need to work endlessly and tirelessly to protect that gift. No innocent person deserves to have their life taken from them, especially children.”
“And so where do we find ourselves eight years later,” Monsignor asked, “We find ourselves still fighting for the same cause, still holding on to the same hope, still trying to understand and opening our hearts as much as we can on a day like this to families whose lives continue to be broken.”
“We are blessed to have so many of you young folks here in this church tonight,” said Monsignor.
“Many of them were your contemporaries at this age. I thank you for being here. And I thank you for being the young people of faith that you are. Because you are the reminder of how much goodness exists in this world, how much potential exists in every one of you. How every day as you mature you are discovering those gifts and talents that God gave to you, and you’re using them to make yourselves and to make us a little better, a little happier, and even a little bit holier.”
“I pray, as we come tonight for the eighth time to remember that we know there is always hope, there is always a reason to believe. And we know that if we work for what is right and what is good and what is holy, that we don’t walk alone…that this God sets the path and walks along with us,” Monsignor said.
Msgr. Weiss thanked the St. Rose community for their strength, faith and generosity. “We made a mark on the world because of who we are and what we are about and the community and the families that God had called us to be,” he said. Monsignor took the time to thank Mrs. Pat Llodra, former Newtown First Selectman, who he said immediately went into action to pull the community together during that tragic time.
“We don’t always get to meet a real hero in our lives. A real hero is someone who makes such an incredible difference, never forgotten, and we are in the presence of one tonight with Mrs. Llodra,” he said.
“We know, as it is often said, that the sun comes out tomorrow. In fact, the sun comes out every tomorrow, sometimes it’s just a little brighter and easier to see than other days, but it’s always there. Not just the S U N but the S O N, Jesus Christ,” said Msgr. Weiss.
