Forgiveness after 30 years: religious and the murderer in peace

Forgiveness after 30 years: religious and the murderer in peace

In a remarkable turn, the Ursuline sisters in Cleveland accepted the excuse of Daniel Pitcher, who had murdered the 59-year-old religious Joanne Marie Mascha over 30 years ago. Pitcher, who was sitting in prison in 1995 for rape and murder, asked for forgiveness in a letter from September 2024. In his message, the 51-year-old explained: "I was a frightened boy who didn't ask for help. I'm sorry that I killed her." The sisters answered him that they accepted his apology and asked him to live a life in peace and kindness, as she had always demanded.

The Ursulins, which have been committed to the abolition of the death penalty for years, underlined in their answer that their forgiveness does not mean forgetting the crime or having its severity. "Forgiveness is not an easy act, but a long way to heal," emphasized a sister. With this attitude you want to show that both victims and perpetrators have the opportunity to change and reconciliation. Your position consolidates your commitment and once again draws attention to the grievances of the US criminal judicial system, which continues to carry out executions.

dealing with dying

Sister M. Gabriela Zmunda, who lives in Paderborn, brings a special perspective on dying. She has already accompanied 40 nuns on her last path and does not see death as a terrible end, but as a natural transition to a new life with God. In an interview, she reports that it is a great relief for many who accompanies her if you assure you: "It is now good, you can go." This encouragement helps to give people peace in the last moments.

Sister Gabriela further explains that the awareness of accompanying them is decisive in these moments. Physical touches and soothing words can contribute significantly to alleviate the fear of dying. The conversations about life and love intensify the inner calm, which is important for many dying people. The thought that they enter in God's empire after death gives not only the dying, but also the consolation present while they navigate through the process of saying.

like katholisch.de it is this deep faith in forgiveness and transformation that shapes the action of this religious community and by sister Gabriela. In both cases, the power of faith and the possibility of healing become impressively visible.