Scottish Catholic Observer

A total of 28 people, including 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza and his mother, died in the shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School. British victim Dylan Hockley, 6, was among the 20 children killed along with six other adults.

“I was deeply saddened by Friday’s senseless violence in Newtown, Connecticut,” Pope Benedict said at his Angelus prayer last Sunday. “I assure the families of the victims, especially those who lost a child, of my closeness in prayer. May the God of consolation touch their hearts and ease their pain. During this Advent Season, let us dedicate ourselves more fervently to prayer and to acts of peace.”

Further threats

The suffering of the town continued on Sunday as the St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Connecticut (above) was evacuated during a noon Mass after the church received a bomb threat.

The Catholic church in Newtown has become a centre of grieving following the tragedy, as the peaceful community tries to come to terms with the violence of Adam Lanza who, at one time, attended the Sandy Hook Elementary School. Mr Lanza shot some of his child victims as many as 11 times. Mr Lanza killed his mother first, and used her guns in the attack.

Twin sisters from Scotland who coach the church choir have said the death of 20 youngsters must not be in vain.

Helen Malyszka and Trish Keil, 58, from Edinburgh described the impact of the killings. Ms Malyszka, known as Nell, said: “We’ll always remember December 14… 9/11. But we will overcome, because good does overcome evil. It does. There’s more good—there has to be.”

Support

Last week’s massacre in Connecticut was the second deadliest school shooting in US history, and the Pope had earlier conveyed his ‘heartfelt grief’ through a message from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone that was read out at the St Rose of Lima Catholic Church at a vigil on Friday.

The Pope ‘has asked me to convey his heartfelt grief and the assurance of his closeness in prayer to the victims and their families, and to all affected by the shocking event,” Cardinal Bertone wrote in the letter. “In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy he asks God our Father to console all those who mourn and to sustain the entire community.”

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, the most senior Catholic clergyman in the US, also offered prayers and sympathy for the victims of the shooting.

“The shooting tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut wrenches the hearts of all people,” he said. “At this time, we pledge especially our prayerful support to the Diocese of Bridgeport and the community of Newtown as they cope with this almost unbearable sorrow. We pray that the peace that passes understanding be with them as they deal with the injuries they have sustained and with the deaths of their beautiful children. Once again we speak against the culture of violence infecting our country even as we prepare to welcome the Prince of Peace at Christmas.”