Prayer vigil for slain parishioner in Freehold brings outpouring of love, support
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Throughout her years as a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Denise Bartone never hesitated to share her love and compassion with members of the parish and the community at large.
On the night of Feb. 4, hours after she died, the parish and community returned a full measure of respect, filling the vast nave of the Co-cathedral to capacity to pray for the repose of her soul and the consolation of her family.
The mother of three, Bartone, 48, had been found slain only hours before in the Freehold Township home she shared with her husband, Kenneth, and their three daughters.
According to police, it appears Kenneth Bartone committed suicide on the same day after his body was found floating in the Raritan River. Authorities are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.
The news brought an outpouring of grief to the community, including including scores of young people who attend Freehold Township schools with the Bartone sisters.
It was an outpouring that Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector, spoke to as he led the assembly of about 1,000 in prayer, asking that all continue to pray for the family through the coming days. “Let your hearts be filled with love” for the family, he said. “They need our prayer. We need to turn to God and not ask why because there is no answer.”
Msgr. Sirianni encouraged one and all to “pray for one another and prayer everywhere you go, in the library, in the classroom,” at sporting events and in the marketplace. Pray without ceasing for the family, he said, and “if you feel like crying, cry. Stand beside them and be their comfort.”
“Let us be united in this, let us be strong tonight and turn to Jesus in confidence as we move through that dark valley. Let us bring hope and assurance.”
As the vigil concluded, he urged the young people to seek out grief counselors in attendance as well as members of the parish bereavement team who were on hand to help.
Denise Bartone was chairperson of the Freehold Township Education Foundation, and schools planned to have additional counselors available, as well.
“There was a real need to gather and pray,” Msgr. Sirianni said after the prayer service, expressing his own sorrow at the loss of Denise Bartone and her husband, whom he described as “soft-spoken and always on Church on Sunday.”
“We needed to be there for those young women. Their mother was a faithful, loving person. … She lived out her faith, always helpful,” he said.
In addition to being involved in the public school system, Denise Bartone was known for her dedication to service, whether it be for fundraising for the homeless of those suffering the effects of Superstorm Sandy, he said.
[[In-content Ad]]Related Stories
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
E-Editions
Events
Throughout her years as a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Denise Bartone never hesitated to share her love and compassion with members of the parish and the community at large.
On the night of Feb. 4, hours after she died, the parish and community returned a full measure of respect, filling the vast nave of the Co-cathedral to capacity to pray for the repose of her soul and the consolation of her family.
The mother of three, Bartone, 48, had been found slain only hours before in the Freehold Township home she shared with her husband, Kenneth, and their three daughters.
According to police, it appears Kenneth Bartone committed suicide on the same day after his body was found floating in the Raritan River. Authorities are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.
The news brought an outpouring of grief to the community, including including scores of young people who attend Freehold Township schools with the Bartone sisters.
It was an outpouring that Msgr. Sam A. Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector, spoke to as he led the assembly of about 1,000 in prayer, asking that all continue to pray for the family through the coming days. “Let your hearts be filled with love” for the family, he said. “They need our prayer. We need to turn to God and not ask why because there is no answer.”
Msgr. Sirianni encouraged one and all to “pray for one another and prayer everywhere you go, in the library, in the classroom,” at sporting events and in the marketplace. Pray without ceasing for the family, he said, and “if you feel like crying, cry. Stand beside them and be their comfort.”
“Let us be united in this, let us be strong tonight and turn to Jesus in confidence as we move through that dark valley. Let us bring hope and assurance.”
As the vigil concluded, he urged the young people to seek out grief counselors in attendance as well as members of the parish bereavement team who were on hand to help.
Denise Bartone was chairperson of the Freehold Township Education Foundation, and schools planned to have additional counselors available, as well.
“There was a real need to gather and pray,” Msgr. Sirianni said after the prayer service, expressing his own sorrow at the loss of Denise Bartone and her husband, whom he described as “soft-spoken and always on Church on Sunday.”
“We needed to be there for those young women. Their mother was a faithful, loving person. … She lived out her faith, always helpful,” he said.
In addition to being involved in the public school system, Denise Bartone was known for her dedication to service, whether it be for fundraising for the homeless of those suffering the effects of Superstorm Sandy, he said.
[[In-content Ad]]