Students Gather to Remember A Friend

By: Kate Howard and Erica Johnson
Posted In: News

“This is the worst way you want to gather with your friends on campus,” said Father John Codega at the opening of the memorial service for Nicholas Kelly.

Kelly, a junior Administration of Justice major from Abington, Mass., and member of the football team, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday morning according to an email from administration. That evening, the university offered students a chance to pray, share their pain, and be comforted during an informal mass.

The conference room of Rodgers Recreation was overflowing with friends and classmates, many in shock and all grieving for the loss of a friend and classmate.

Some students participated in the mass, offering Bible readings, and most quietly cried and held one another. “We can’t keep asking ourselves if we could’ve changed things,” Codega told the mourners. Their sobs grew as though his words rang true, and Codega went on to quell their fears. “We can’t say, ‘What if we had done something different?’ We can’t do that because we couldn’t have… This, right here, is Nick’s greatest gift,” said Codega emphasizing the support of the friendship of those in attendance with a sweep of his arm.

The Mosaic staff extends its condolences to Kelly’s family and friends.

Members of the Counseling Center (ext. 2919) and Campus Ministry (ext. 2326) are available for students in their grief.