DANBURY
- Thursday, May 23, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
Father
Albert Audette, Jr., pastor of Saint Peter Parish, Danbury, celebrated
a Mass of Christian Burial for Christina Long at Saint Peter Parish
this morning.
His
homily is as follows:
Throughout
these unbelievable and difficult last few days we have felt the
anguish of tragedy and the pain of grief. A tragedy we do not
fully understand, and grief, almost to deep to measure. At the
same time, we see something quite different, we see the opposite
of grief and sadness, we see the awesome power and love of Jesus
Christ. It is important to remember that whenever there is pain
and darkness, His Grace is mightier than the darkness; His light
softens, it consoles and most important, it moves us to seek being
closer to Him! Why? Because God's goodness always calls us to
Him. The darkness of grief and sin are scattered by His Light.
Grace overshadows sin. Through the darkest of these hours we can
rely on Him to stand firmlly with each of us, together in prayer,
making us able to bear anything.
Christina
was taken from us in a cruel and terrible moment - though we can
judge the evil of what happened, let's not judge Christina or
her family. Perhaps we saw and observed as friends and neighbors,
but we did not have access to her inner-most need, neither did
we know how Christina reacted to the world around her nor of the
depth of her very young heart. Let's not judge, let's learn; let's
not dwell on the blame of what happened during Christina's yesterdays,
let's build on tomorrow.
My children, let's dwell on the power and depth of God's compassion
and His love, for He is wonderfully in love with us. His love
is a mirror of the love He has fashioned in family. His love lives
in your family to the extent that you love and protect each other.
His love reaches out to friend and neighbor. How peaceful and
calm He is; how peaceful He rests in our hearts. Prayer-filled
families know the peace of which I speak; prayer-filled families
combine to make a prayerful community. In times of danger and
hurt, families pull together to pray, to protect and to mend.
That is one of the wonderful ways God works in us. You can see
and feel His power at work in the way our parents and guardians
live to protect and guide you. The love of family is not fragile!
Absolutely the contrary. It is God's most powerful and sacred
way to help you grow. In fact, the more the prayer, the stronger
the love, the stronger the love, the happier the family. Even,
by the way, when times are difficult! Imagine the holiness in
a family that measures itself in love and in prayer.
Families that love the most are not afraid to protect their friends
and neighbors. They see a friend's weaknesses and faults and try
to help. As friends, classmates and neighbors, we saw Christina
in light of what we thought her to be and all that we thought
she wanted to be. Christina's heart was troubled and alone. God
calls us to love neighbor as self; we have learned this week how
much we did not know.
We also learned this week that family stretches beyond our front
door. Saint Peter School, our Diocese, our Town of Danbury and
our Neighbors have shown, beyond doubt, their love. How fortunate
we are to have so professional and tireless a school principal
as Mrs. Josephine Ferry. She is a truly capable and unshakeable
leader. She and our teachers left no student alone and made sure
parents and children worked this tragic week together as families
must. His Excellency Bishop William E. Lori has shown again that
no matter the emergency, the time or the situation, he moves quickly
to insure the best possible course of action is taken. His team
of counselors, his most senior staff and his emergency assistance
team were with us within the hour, absolutely effective, compassionately
and tirelessly at work. His Honor, Mayor Mark Boughton proved
that the City of Danbury is indeed a community family. He quickly
brought city, public school and police services into a team that
proved formidable. Mayor Boughton himself spent long hours in
our school; I am very proud to call him Mayor. The hallmark of
a strong and safe community is its leadership and compassion.
The City of Danbury proved its leadership and compassion worthy
of the best in America.
God,
Family, Community woven together is the best protection for our
youth. Sin can but sadden its heart; but never detract from its
good. As a parish community I extend our deepest thanks and appreciation
to you Mrs. Josephine Ferry, and to our teachers and aids; to
Bishop William Lori and to Armand Fabbri, the Diocesan Superintendent
of Schools; to Dr. Joseph McAleer, the Diocesan Director of Communications;
to Chief of Police Robert Paquette and his fine police officers;
and to you, Mr. Mayor, for your outstanding help and love of commumty.
Mrs. Shelly Riling, you were Christina's hope, loving sharer and
motherly guide. Our parish is here for you. We will always be
your solace and prayerful companion. We want you to know that
we care and weep with you today. We are also your strength, and
we prayerfully seek God to grant you happiness and a full life
of peace and Grace.
This week we encountered a truly deep and unforgettable tragedy.
The families of Saint Peter School, surrounded by Church and Community,
brought us through a most difficult time.
Today
will be difficult. I am confident that you, children and parents
will bear it well. Tears and sadness will pass; the Love of God
and the strength of family will not! GOD LOVE YOU.
-
Reverend Albert D. Audette, Jr.