Loading Map....

Newtown Tragedy Memorial Mass

Date/Time
Jan 14 2013 10:00AM to 11:00 AM

Location
St. Francis of Assisi
135 W. 31st Street
New York NY, 10001

Location Website

Category
Other


Month’s Mind Memorial Mass
In New York City for the
Victims of the Newtown CT Tragedy

The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents and the
The Friars of Holy Name Province

newtown-massOn January 14, 2013, on the one-month anniversary of the Newtown CT tragedy, members of The Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents physically and spiritually joined the Friars of Holy Name Province in celebration of a Month’s Mind Memorial Mass at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on 31rst Street in New York City for the victims of this horrific catastrophe.

In an absolutely beautiful celebration, Fr. David Convertino, OFM, commemorated the victims and invoked the Holy Spirit at the Mass. His homily (attached) addressed the question of “Where was God in All of This?” and “What does Jarius Have to Do with Newtown, CT?” Twenty-seven red commemorative candles in front of the altar remained lit during the Mass.

Meredith Augustin, Director of Music Ministries at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, was exquisite in her renditions of “We Walk by Faith,” “Ps.139: Before I Was Born,” “You Are Mine,” “Shepherd Me, O God,” and—in an original adaptation from a song from Les Miserables—“Bring Him Home,” a particularly appropriate lamentation meditation. After Communion, Barbara Truncellito read the attached heart-wrenching original poem she composed, “In Newtown Connecticut: For the Children and Their Parents.”
In solidarity, all grieving parents of The Ministry for Grieving Parents, both individually and in their local parishes—as well as hundreds of friars, worshippers, and supporters in Massachusetts and other locations of Holy Name Province, from Maine to Florida, joined in this Memorial Remembrance on January 14, 2013—in the hopes of bringing some semblance of peace to those who are in need of so much healing. The Ministry of Grieving Parents hopes to continue to provide ongoing spiritual comfort to these grieving parents in the future when appropriate.