June 30, 2023

Catholics mourn murdered parishioners known for deep faith, love

REGIONAL
By OSV News staff

 

NEWTON, Mass. (OSV News) — After the brutal slaying of three Newton Catholic parishioners, their pastor extended “our love, care and sympathy” to the victims’ family members, while invoking the hope of Jesus’ resurrection, amid shared feelings of “shock, loss and painful grief” over the gruesome murders carried out in a home invasion.

Bruno and Gilda “Jill” D’Amore, who were in their 70s, and Jill’s 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, 97, were found stabbed and beaten to death early June 25. A fellow parishioner of Our Lady Help of Christians went to their home to check on them after the D’Amores failed to show up at a Sunday Mass celebrated for their 50th wedding anniversary, and discovered the horrific scene.

“The shocking deaths of Lucia, Bruno and Jill are an enormous loss,” said Father Dan Riley, pastor of Sacred Heart & Our Lady’s Collaborative, which is made up of two parishes, Sacred Heart in Newton Center and Our Lady Help of Christians in Newtonville.

“Those of you who are close family and friends have lost not one, but three people, who have been such a loving and important part of your lives. Christina, Bruno, Anna, other family members, and close friends — we are so sorry,” Father Riley said in his homily during a June 27 evening Mass of peace.

He extended “love, care and sympathy” to the family and friends of the victims on behalf of the parish and Boston Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley and Pope Francis, who were meeting together in Rome. Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller also had called “to express her sorrow,” the priest said.

While “shock, loss and painful grief” are “most deeply felt by those closest to Jill, Bruno and Lucia, the neighborhood, and Our Lady’s parish, as extended family — we are all feeling shock, loss and grief,” Father Riley said.

The day after their loved ones were found slain in their home, the family released a letter describing each one.

“Jill had taken on the ministry of beautifying our church’s environment. … She spent endless hours in the care of our church,” it said. “Bruno was known for his big voice and his exuberant personality, and as ‘head chef,’ he proudly flipped the burgers at the parish picnic. Lucia, until COVID, never missed a 10 a.m. Mass. For over 60 years, she and her husband Alberto sat in the ‘North End’ section of our church.”

“They loved Christ and the Church. …They lived their Catholic faith proudly and in service to the Church,” Cardinal O’Malley said in a June 27 statement.

The cardinal said he would offer Mass for them at St. Peter’s Basilica and also offer prayers for the parish community, parish staff and the entire Newton community.

“As priests, we serve to minister to people in times of great loss and tragedy. Often words are not enough to help families and friends come to terms with the loss of a loved one. We look to God for answers. We seek to understand,” he said. “Often, we simply cannot make sense of what has happened. But our faith sustains us, and in this moment of enormous pain, we know that God is with us always.”

Some hours before the June 27 Mass, the suspect apprehended in connection with the triple murders, 41-year-old Christopher Ferguson, also of Newton, was arraigned on one count of murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and burglary.

Massgoers told local media the church was packed for the Mass of peace, with one parishioner saying it was like the congregation at “Christmas and Easter.”

In his homily, Father Riley said that “this horrible tragedy has shown what we knew already: that you are people who care about each other, and express that care with words and actions of kindness.”

The priest praised the family for the love he said they have shown “in allowing” themselves “to receive love” after such a tragedy, being open to letting trained professionals help them deal with the trauma, and letting him as their pastor and the parish staff “to support your Catholic faith.”

“You have allowed friends to feed you and listen to you,” he said.

Father Riley told the congregation, “We are grieving, and at the same time, we are not hopeless. We have confidence about the future based on the fact that Jesus is risen.”

“Because Jesus is risen, Jill, Bruno and Lucia are now alive in heaven, where there is no violence. Because Jesus is risen, they are in heaven, where everyone gets along,” he said.

“In addition, because Jesus is risen — he is alive and with us here, especially in this extremely difficult time,” the priest continued. “Jesus is with us in the warmth, embraces, phone calls and other acts of mutual love and support being shared. Jesus is with us as we receive him in holy Communion, through which he tenderly caresses our wounded hearts. Jesus is with us, as our best friend, always at our side, always loving us, always helping us.”