Acts of Kindness in Response to Evil - Sandy Hook Addresses
It may be just a balm to a deep wound, but an Act of Kindness in response to what happened to the community of Sandy Hook Elementary School is a mercy I can offer. Must offer...
A Catholic Homeschooler on Facebook shared this, about her brother, Fr. Luke Suarez of Newtown, CT.
As we continue to pray and offer up for the families in Newtown, please also include Fr. Suarez and Monsignor Weiss, in your compassion. I had read THIS article about 10 of the 20 children being their parishoners. I hope you will read it.
Here is what his Sister asks....
"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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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,"
The School's address is SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY 12 Dickenson Drive, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
Will be writing them today. They need to see overwhelming love.
*UPDATE* From the postal service:
The U.S. Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to allow the public to send condolences to those affected by the tragedy in Newtown, CT last week. Those who wish to send expressions of comfort should address them to:
Messages of Condolence for Newtown
PO Box 3700
Newtown CT 06470
“We understand that there is an outpouring of support for everyone in the Newtown area and we hope to make it easier for those who wish to send encouragement and messages of compassion to those affected,” said Kimberly J. Peters, Connecticut Valley District Manager for the U.S. Postal Service, adding, “Through letters and cards, families will be able to hold that friendship in their hands and to read those kind words at a time and place that supports their pace of healing.”
A Catholic Homeschooler on Facebook shared this, about her brother, Fr. Luke Suarez of Newtown, CT.
As we continue to pray and offer up for the families in Newtown, please also include Fr. Suarez and Monsignor Weiss, in your compassion. I had read THIS article about 10 of the 20 children being their parishoners. I hope you will read it.
"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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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,"
The School's address is SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY 12 Dickenson Drive, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
Will be writing them today. They need to see overwhelming love.
*UPDATE* From the postal service:
The U.S. Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to allow the public to send condolences to those affected by the tragedy in Newtown, CT last week. Those who wish to send expressions of comfort should address them to:
Messages of Condolence for Newtown
PO Box 3700
Newtown CT 06470
“We understand that there is an outpouring of support for everyone in the Newtown area and we hope to make it easier for those who wish to send encouragement and messages of compassion to those affected,” said Kimberly J. Peters, Connecticut Valley District Manager for the U.S. Postal Service, adding, “Through letters and cards, families will be able to hold that friendship in their hands and to read those kind words at a time and place that supports their pace of healing.”
9 comments:
Thank you Allison for sharing this. I have not followed any coverage or read any details...it's too much. But I deeply appreciate this post and have shared it via Pinterest, Twitter & Delicious.
Thank you for letting us know. My family will support Father Luke with prayers and cards and some cash, support he can share as he wishes.
Can I link this? I hope he gets a lot of mail and love.
Thanks for sharing Allison. I'm going to link to this post from my FB page and of course will add my prayers specifically for these priests. God Bless.
Thank you so much for sharing this!! We will also be supporting Fr. Luke in any way we can, but especially with our prayers.
Thank you for posting this. Should we mail our cards to the Rectory address or to the PO Box instead?
Thank you for this post Allison, we have been looking for a way to personally help the Church and the families. This is exactly what I was looking for! God Bless you!
Peace and Good to you as well.
I came by your post by links from 3 different people on G+ and I have reposted it on Plurk as well. One of my friends shared this beautiful idea; she saved the photo of Father and Msgr. to her pictures file, and added it to her screensaver. Whenever the photo comes up it is a reminder to pray for them.
I am also praying that they will not receive attacks against their home or their persons.
Peace and Good to you as well.
I came by your post by links from 3 different people on G+ and I have reposted it on Plurk as well. One of my friends shared this beautiful idea; she saved the photo of Father and Msgr. to her pictures file, and added it to her screensaver. Whenever the photo comes up it is a reminder to pray for them.
I am also praying that they will not receive attacks against their home or their persons.
(PS if this posts twice I apologize. After it had me put my password in the box came up again and was empty so I wasn't sure if it deleted it and I need to do it again)
It is unspeakable, and the grief must be overwhelming. I feel the grief here, and yet knew none of the victims. We can only pour out our prayers. Thank you for sharing that article and the address, Allison. We must all hug our children tightly and tell them they are loved.
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