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It was a solemn moment as Father Robert Lysz's was brought out of the Cathedral of St. Joseph. Fellow clergy who know Rev Lysz well carried the casket, men like Father Audet who worked with Father Lysz for the past 2 years since Father Audet became a priest at St. Matthew's. Father Arthur Audet: "People are confused. They're still trying to deal with this. They're still trying to unravel everything. There's hurt. And there's hatred. But Father Audet says Reverend Lysz would have wanted them to forgive. During the funeral service, Father Lysz was called a giver. It was a title his parishioners say he earned. Michele Sylvain, parishioner: "He always found a way to make you feel special. He would help you through whatever he had to. He would have given you the shirt off his back if he had to." Claudia Peronaci knew Father Lysz even before he was ordained 24 years ago. She met him at St. Gregory's Church where Father Lysz was a deacon.
Verna: "At that point, did you know he was the type of person who would have such an impact on people?" Even the Archbishop of the Hartford Diocese says Father Lysz will be hard to replace. Most Rev. Daniel Cronin, Archbishop of Hartford: "It took a tragedy like this to bring out that he had kneaded the parish together so well."
Fr. Jack Gatzak, Archdiocese of Hartford: "Sprinkled with holy water, the people in attendance, as well as the walls will be sprinkled with holy water in order to symbolize a kind of cleansing." Then come prayers, prayers of forgiveness. Fr. Gatzak: "Everybody there really had nothing to do with that crime. They were all horrified by it. But in fact, every single one of us is a sinner. So, tonight's theme over this rededication mass will be to petition God's forgiveness. Basically, a petition to God to come back into his house, to take up residence in our home once again, take up residence in our lives, be the force of good and the force of love, don't allow this crime to consume us." Police have charged 32-year-old Michael Ouellette with the beating death of Father Lysz. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT |
Thousands mourn murdered priest
It's been six days since Father Lysz's body was found inside St. Matthew's Church. For many days after that, this property was a crime scene. But tonight, parishioners are coming back to reclaim their church. Thursday is the same day Father Lysz was buried and had a funeral service. Parishioners say that service was the beginning of the healing process.
At the service, one of Father Lysz's best friends talked about how beautifully he had kept the property around the church and about the flowers he planted to make everything look nice. Thursday night, that's going to be a reminder to people as they begin to show up for the reconsecration service at 7:00. It will be a difficult service, a blessing of the church.