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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Nov 2002
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OP
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Glory be to Jesus Christ!! I received this email on Saturday after it had been forwarded four or five times, finally ending up in a gorup that I am part of. I post it here because I know what support a caregiver working with grieving families needs in the face of such overwhelming grief and anger by those being served. Please help by prayer and a card to these poor priests. Bob This email was written by the sister of one of the priests at the parish in Newtown, CT. Please pass it along and ask that everyone pray for Father Luke Suarez and Monsignor Weiss. Everyone is praying for the families and deceased, all a good thing. But we need to support those ministering to the grieving, overwhelmed with the sadness, questions, anger, funerals�
> Letter below from Father Luke Suarez' sister
>
> My friends,
>
> All of you, I am sure, have heard so much about the tragedy in Newtown, CT. Many of you have received emails from me about my younger brother, Father Luke Suarez, who is a priest at St. Rose of Lima parish, a Catholic church just down the road from Sandy Hook Elementary. He, and his pastor, Monsignor Weiss, arrived at the school within moments of the shooting, and have been caring for the community ever since. The picture I have included was taken at the school.
>
> Father Luke has an impossible task before him. His diocese is without a bishop right now, and there is very little leadership and assistance from above. Monsignor is older, went through a serious surgery recently, and is personally devastated by the losses. The parish is very large, and parishioners tend to be wealthy and somewhat ill-catechized. The rectory has received serious threats, and as my brother gave the homily Sunday (December 16) at the noon mass, the church had to be evacuated by SWAT teams. After experiencing identity theft and online hacking incidents, he had to erase all of his internet accounts. After a weekend of endless media requests, notifications and vigils with heartbroken families, and little sleep, he now has two wakes and two funerals every day, until the fourth Sunday of Advent. Father Luke has not even been ordained two years.
>
> My large family has been trying to send Father Luke our love and support from afar, and one of my brothers was able to visit with him briefly a couple times. All he asks for is prayer.
>
> I have been wracking my brain, trying to think of a way that our beautiful, loving community could tangibly reach out to Father Luke, Monsignor Weiss, and the St. Rose parish, to support them in this most awful of times. I have sent many prayer requests, and I am asking for more prayers again. But I also want to ask everyone to search their hearts, and if the Holy Spirit moves you, please consider sending one of your family's Christmas cards to the rectory, with a few words of love and encouragement. Here is his address:
>
> Father Luke Suarez
> 46 Church Hill Road
> Newtown, CT 06470
>
> My brother has said over and over again that without the prayer support he is receiving, he could not keep going. And this week is only the beginning. Everyone there is still in shock. Their peaceful home has been desecrated by violence. They will need to live with this sorrow forever.
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> But in our weakness is His strength. Grace abounds. Can you help me carry him through this time of trial?
>
> On a hopeful note, Father Luke did say that no media coverage has even touched the deep, beautiful awakening of faith that has occurred there. Their tiny church, where my children have received sacraments and where Luke was ordained, has been full of people in prayer without ceasing since this tragedy happened. Love is stronger than death.
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> Please feel free to share the address with your family, friends, and community. An outpouring of love will sustain these good priests through their impossible ministry--impossible on their own, but possible with God.
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> I am so grateful to live in this community. We are all so blessed with one another. Every day, I see you all loving one another as Christ loved. Thank you for letting me reach out to you now.
>
> With humble appreciation,
> Tabitha
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Lord have mercy on Father Luke! Of course I will take the time to send a card to him...
We are all grieving with Newton...evil, in the soul of the young man, visited them and desecrated them, but faith in God and the prayers from the faithful around the country and the globe will cleanse that evil and help the grieving in their unbearable pain.
Prayers to the blessed Virgin Mary that she will intercede for Father Luke and give him continued strength and courage. AMEN!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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I can't read the entire email  . God in your mercy inebriate these holy priest servants of yours who have so totally answers your call. Grant them the fullness of your miraculous life by your Holy Spirit. Heal the wounds of your faithful servants and all those wherever they are that call upon your Holy Name!
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,953
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While the enormity of the task and test of faith faced by the good clergy of Newtown is something that none of us can even imagine, especially at the St. Rose parish, I can say that the death of any child is probably the toughest task faced by any priest. Over the course of my family's life surrounding the priesthood of my father and brother I know this to be true and the manner in which each of them dealt with such a loss in terms of dealing with it personally and as pastor always moved me and strengthened my own faith. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit guides the true of heart through those times. My thoughts and prayers are surely with the clergy as they have to turn from sorrow to the celebration of the Nativity.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,924 Likes: 28
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OP
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Glory be to Jesus Christ!!
I can tell you, from my own experience, that dealing with the death of a child is the most difficult task facing those who serve families in grief over the loss of a loved one. Nothing takes more out of me, personally, than dealing with not only the loss of a young child or young person, but also dealing at the same time with grieving parents, siblings, relatives, and friends. I find that I am not as strong as I thought I used to be and I am more ready to surrender myself to the Lord's Holy Will, often wondering why, but not daring to ask.
Lord bless and have mercy on those who deal with the violent death of a loved one. Stand close to those grieving and be with them now and for the balance of their pilgrimage. Amen.
Bob
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