“Words escape us”: Bishop, priests and deacons gather for funeral of a deacon’s teenage daughter

Last updated on: August 2, 2013 at 8:00 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

“Words escape us”: Bishop, priests and deacons gather for funeral of a deacon’s teenage daughter 2013-08-02T08:00:05-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

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From the Pittsburgh Catholic:

Emily Rose Jancart, 17, of Moon Township, a June graduate of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School who enrolled in the nursing program at Carlow University, died July 21 following a collision with a car while riding her bicycle. Emily was born in Pittsburgh to Rosemary and Deacon Robert Jancart, who was ordained in June, and she was a sister to Grace, Karl and Stephen. A brother, Benjamin George Jancart, preceded her in death.

She attended St. James School in Sewickley. Lauren Laverick, 19, of Moon Township, remembers their school years, playing together as children and how nice Emily was to everyone.

As a young girl, her kindness touched classmates at OLSH, who spoke of her beautiful smile, friendliness and willingness to help others.

Gabby Giglio, 18, of McDonald, said Emily was a good friend.

“She was a really, really nice girl,” Giglio said, adding that they had lunch together in high school for four years. “She was always so much fun to be around, always something positive to say. She had a good heart and was kind to everyone.”

Ben Schwartz, 17, transferred to OLSH in his sophomore year and was in Emily’s Spanish class. When the teacher asked for a student to mentor him, Emily offered.

“She was very quiet, but very nice and she liked to talk to everyone,” he said.

A large gathering of family and friends attended a funeral Mass July 26 for Emily at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Moon Township. An opening procession of religious was led by Bishop David Zubik and Aux. Bishop William Waltersheid; Father Andrew Fischer, pastor and homilist; Deacon Herb Riley, deacon of the altar; Father John Ayoob, former pastor; Father James Holland, former parochial vicar; 30 deacons; 15 priests; seminarians; and altar servers. “There are times in our lives when words escape us, and this is one of them,” Bishop Zubik said at the beginning of the liturgy. He thanked God for the word and life in Jesus, who makes us all strong.

“He is the one who makes sense of every senseless event in life. Emily is purely a gift from God. This Mass and faith community will lift her back up to the God who gave her life,” he said before blessing the casket with holy water. Father Fischer based his homily on Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary, from the previous Sunday’s liturgy. He chose the story because it was read the day Emily died and Mary’s choice of the better part was to be with Jesus. “Mary was simply in the presence of God. We are here today to be in God’s presence.”

Read more.

My prayers are with Deacon Jancart and his family during this difficult time. Please pray for Emily Rose and all those who love her.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her …

Deacons

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