Apostolates of the United States Province are offering prayers and condolences to the families of tragedy that took 27 lives, including 20 children, on Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
For the past week, the lone green candle in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame has been carrying a prayer for those impacted by the school killings in Connecticut. The grotto is open daily for quiet reflection and to light candles. A Rosary is said at 6:45 p.m. every day of the year – no matter the weather. The green candle is lit by representatives of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Prayers have been dedicated daily on pray.nd.edu for the families and victims as well.
Faculty, staff and administrators are offering a continuous day of prayer today on campus at Notre Dame and on Dec. 28, 2012 — the Feast Day of Holy Innocents –friends, family and alumni are encouraged to pray the Rosary as a sign of prayerful unity.
You can leave a prayer request and light a virtual candle for the victims and their families on Family Rosary’s website as well.
Family Rosary, a mission of the U.S. Province’s Holy Cross Family Ministries, donated 1,000 Rosaries to St. Rose Lima Catholic Church in Newtown this week and special prayer cards were printed and distributed, both at Mass at Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Mass., as well as to St. Rose Lima for the Newtown community.
Rev. Peter Rocca, C.S.C., Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame, offered a Mass in honor of those who died.
Meanwhile, the Presidents of Notre Dame and Stonehill College (Easton, Mass.) extended their prayers to those affected by the shootings.
Fr. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., President of Notre Dame, issued this statement on Dec. 15, 2012:
“The senseless slaughter of innocent children, coming as it does in this Christmas season, is an unspeakable tragedy. Such acts of violence – whether in schools, malls, theaters or street corners – are becoming far too common, and our nation must take all reasonable steps to end these horrors. We at Notre Dame pray for the victims, their families and for all who were touched by this terrible killing. Our profound condolences go to all who are grieving.”
Stonehill President Rev. Mark T. Cregan, C.S.C., released a statement on Dec. 18, 2012:
“Since Friday, when we learned of the tragedy in Connecticut, our thoughts and prayers have been with the people of Newtown, especially those who have lost loved ones or who are the victims of the violence themselves. A small number of Stonehill students come from Newtown, as do some of our alumni, and our hearts go out to them and to their neighbors during these dark days.
“The season of Advent and Christmas should be one of peace and our prayer is that peace will triumph over violence and terror. In our liturgies this past weekend, we remembered the families of Newtown in the context of Gaudete Sunday.
“Our hope, too, is that, as a nation, we can come together to stop these senseless rampages.
“Please join me in remembering and praying for all those who are suffering because of this terrible event.”
