Blessie - CathNews New Zealand

Blessie Gotincgo's family make a novena in her memory

admin — Mon, 25 May 2015 19:03:37 +0000

The family of Blessie Gotingco began the novena on May 15, timing it so that the final day of prayer would fall last Sunday, the one-year anniversary of Blessie's death.

A man, who has name suppression, was convicted of Gotingco's rape and murder at the High Court in Auckland on Friday.

Gotingco went missing on a Saturday night in 2014 after catching a bus to her Birkdale home from her work in Auckland's city centre. Her body was found several days later at Eskdale Cemetery.

Gotingco family spokeswoman Ruth Money said the family was "celebrating Blessie's life as their faith allows."

"They're a very strong faith-based family and they have a very strong Filipino community around them, so they have New Zealand-based family as well as the international family who have arrived to support them through the trial, so there will be traditional Filipino and faith-based celebrations of her life and for her."

Blessie's husband Antonio Gotingco has spoken before about the family's strong Catholic faith.

Last year he said he believed everything happened for a reason, and that his wife's death was "an instrument to awaken the whole country that the environment is changing and that we need to start making an effort to protect our neighbours."

He acknowledged that faith in his only public words since the trial.

"May the grace of the Lord be with you all," he told media gathered outside Auckland's High Court on Friday.

After the trial, Money said the family were "extremely relieved" the trial was over.

"We wish to remember her for who she was rather than the evil that happened," she said.

"Her smile would light up your heart and will continue to do so."

Source

Blessie Gotincgo's family make a novena in her memory

Pope Francis remembers Blessie in his prayer

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:00:36 +0000

The family Blesilda "Blessie" Gotingco who was murdered on her way home from work last month has received a message of support from the Vatican.

Father Craig Dunford, who presided at her requiem mass on Thursday said he had sent a message to the Vatican this week asking that Pope Francis remember her in prayer.

He said the family had received a call last night from the Vatican to be told by a papal official that the Pope had Blessie in his thoughts and in his prayers.

On his Face Book page, the Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Patrick Dunn invited people to remember Blessie's family.

"Let us keep in our hearts and our prayers the Gotingco family as they come to terms with the tragic loss of their beloved wife, mother and grandmother," Blessie, he said.

"Blessie now knows the fullness of God's love and life. May that knowledge, and the love and support of all our prayers ease their pain, and be a sign to them of God's boundless, healing love."

300 to 400 people attended a requiem mass for Blessie at St Mary's Catholic Church in Northcote, Auckland New Zealand.

At the mass Dunford told her grieving family "there will never be a time when she does not exist".

The outpouring of goodwill since Blessie's death showed there was "incredible goodness in our community" and "one single act does not diminish the many acts of goodness", he said.

The Gotingco family broke down in tears as Fr Dunford presented Antonio with his wife's ashes at the end of the service.

The 56-year-old mother of three was found dumped at a North Shore cemetery after she disappeared on her way home from work on May 24.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with her murder.

Source

Pope Francis remembers Blessie in his prayer