Riley said that the D’Amores and Arpino were “awesome people” who were “very involved in the church.”
“They were the best version of Catholic Italian-Americans you could ever believe,” he added.
Paul and Ginny Arpino, who are on the parish staff and are cousins of the D’Amores (Arpino is an aunt), sent an email to the parish that was shared with CNA asking for prayers “for them, most especially for their three children and their five grandchildren.”
The email said that Gilda D’Amore, whom the Arpinos called “Jill,” cared for the flowers in the church and decorations for the liturgical seasons.
“She spent endless hours in the care of our church,” the email 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,” the email said.
Lucia “never missed a 10 a.m. Mass” until COVID-19, the email said. She and her husband, Alberto, would typically sit in the north end section of the church consistently for more than 60 years, the email said.
“Lucia will be especially missed on the upcoming Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festa weekend as she faithfully walked in that procession through the streets of Nonantum well into her 90s,” the Arpinos wrote.
Riley told CNA that parishioners are shocked and filled with grief but are supporting each other with “deep faith that Jesus is risen and they are with the Lord.”
“We grieve, but with hope, as the Scripture says,” he added.
Mass at the Vatican
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Cardinal O’Malley said in his statement that he was in Rome and would offer Mass for the D’Amores and Arpino at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
“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,” he said.
“We seek to understand. 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,” O’Malley added.
“They loved Christ and the Church,” he said of the D’Amores and Arpino.
O’Malley also said that the parishioners at the collaborative parish; the pastor, Riley; the parish staff; and the entire community of Newton would also be remembered in prayers.
“We give thanks for the parish community of Our Lady Help of Christians and the surrounding Catholic communities coming together to support and care for each other. With God’s help, we will remember the gift of the lives of Gilda, Bruno, and Lucia.”
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