Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Religious women support teenagers grieving after shooting

Religious women support teenagers grieving after shooting

Last updated on: December 18, 2012 at 7:04 pm by CNA Daily News

Religious women support teenagers grieving after shooting 2012-12-18T19:04:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Newtown, Conn., Dec 18, 2012 / 12:04 pm (CNA).- Consecrated women from a religious community in Connecticut are offering prayers, counseling and support to high school students following a mass shooting in their town.

“Only God can give them the hope that they need to heal,” said Florencia Silva, director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.

Silva told CNA that she was one of three consecrated lay women from the Marian Community of Reconciliation who was asked to attend a Dec. 17 youth group meeting at St. Rose of Lima parish in Newtown, Conn., along with clergy, other consecrated laity and counselors.

The meeting was intended to help the members of the close-knit community reeling from a tragic shooting in their small town.

On the morning of Dec. 14, a gunman identified as 20-year-old Adam Lanza opened fire on students and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School after killing his mother at her house.

The gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the school before taking his own life.

St. Rose of Lima parish, which includes some 2000 families, regularly sees between 60 and 100 young people – largely high school students – show up for youth group meetings.

Silva said that she and her religious sisters intend to support the teenagers by praying with them and for them, as well as being present and available if they would like to talk.

She explained that members of the religious community have already visited diocesan high schools in the region, organizing a Mass and making themselves available to listen to the students as they process the experience.

The students reacted positively, saying that the Mass helped them to heal, she said, adding that many of them are also experiencing deep feelings of grief and fear.

“Those are normal reactions,” she said. “I think we are all very sad.”

Silva said she hopes to help the students through these struggles while aiding them in realizing that God is always present, even in the midst of tragedy.

She pointed to one child who recalled seeing God’s presence in the loving and heroic actions of a teacher protecting a class full of students during the shooting.

“God is always there,” she said.

Emphasizing that prayers are real and efficacious, Silva is asking people to pray for those who died in the shooting, including Lanza.

While she acknowledged that forgiveness is not always easy, she stressed that it is a choice, made out of love, even when one is still struggling with strong emotions.

“It’s going to take time for the people to heal, for all of us to heal,” she said.

Julie Rogers, another member of the Marian Community of Reconciliation, said that she hopes to show the grieving teenagers at the youth group that “they’re not alone.”

Newtown is a “tight-knit community,” she observed, and its members need to see that they are being supported with love and prayers.

“First and foremost, they need to know that God is with them,” she said. “He is not a distant God. He is present in their sufferings.”

The Blessed Virgin Mary is also present and “knows what it is like to lose a child,” she explained.

In addition, Rogers hopes to remind those who are suffering from the tragedy that the Christian response is “a response of hope” because it is centered on the Resurrection.

The Christian message is one of forgiveness, not vengeance, she added, and so they are praying for Lanza as well.

During this time of grief, it is important to recognize that human beings alone cannot make sense out of this tragic situation, Rogers stressed.

“This is a time to turn to God,” she said.

Previous Post

December 18, 2012

Archbishop Chaput: Advent's message relevant in wake of tragedy

Next Post

December 18, 2012 Irish government proposals would allow abortion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Jesus' legal father?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Matthat Joseph Jacob Heli