Prayers For Closure, Healing After Tragic End Of Search For Shane Montgomery
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There were heavy hearts Sunday during services at the Manayunk church the family of Shane Montgomery belongs to on the morning after the body of the missing West Chester University student was discovered in the Schuylkill River.
From Thanksgiving through Christmas, and into the New Year, 21-year-old Shane Montgomery was out of sight but not out of mind at St. John the Baptist Church. The end of the five-week search did not change that at all.
"Everybody's prayers went out to him and his family," said Kim Smith, who attended services with her four children. "It's very sad for our whole community. It brought us a lot closer together, even the people who don't know him, didn't know his family."
Many parishioners wore their green ribbons, which had become a symbol of hope.
"I'm glad that now they're going to be able to have some closure," said Mike, another parishioner, "and just move forward from this the best they can."
Father John Kelly called the Montgomery family's strength and resolve during the darkest of days inspiring.
"They're altruistic, they think of others. They're generous. They're quick to hug, grateful for all the support of the community, the church, the police, the search and rescue and the like," he said. "They have led me and this community in a journey of faith, and they continue to do that with tremendous gusto."
In recent weeks, Shane and his family were mentioned during mass intentions. But now, the prayer was for the Montgomery family to find comfort and Shane to rest in eternal peace.
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