Rev. Matthew Gomez has been praying for the teenage girl who died after a recent boat crash in the Florida Keys. He spoke to students and teachers during a service on Friday afternoon in Miami-Dade County.
Luciana “Lucy” Fernandez was a 17-year-old student at the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, a Catholic all-girls high school managed by the Immaculate Heart of Mary since 1963.
The senior’s sudden death prompted the tight-knit community’s outpouring of grief.
“We are here with mixed emotions. We are sad. We may be angry, but look around, we are all grieving together. We are in this together,” Gomez said.
Edith Diaz, an English teacher at the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, knew Luciana well. She too was trying to comfort her friends at the church with her memories.
“If you needed someone to offer you an understanding smile, Lucy was your girl,” Diaz said.
The teacher went on to read an essay Luciana wrote about what it was like to know that she was born during Hurricane Katrina, a destructive Category 5 that caused more than 1,800 deaths.
“Two miracles happened: I was born and within seconds the lights came back, evidentially the name Luciana means light,” she wrote.
Diaz asked the students to use Luciana’s brightness as a dedicated student and kind friend and classmate as an inspiration to move forward.
“We are all challenged today to live and love like Lucy,” Diaz said.
Luciana’s loved ones are preparing to attend her service at 11 a.m., on Sept. 12, at the Church of the Epiphany, at 8235 SW 57 Ave., near Coral Gables.
“Darkness has not overcome the light,” Gomez said.
Save this link: Sept. 12 live stream
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