Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

I met Melissa Periera when I went to a planning meeting at Caldwell College. My friend, Mary Kominski, had helped out at many of the "Prayerful Remembrance & Intercession” services for abortion and she, along with Colette Liddy, who works at the college, wanted to bring the prayer service to the campus. Melissa was the head of the pro life group at the time.

I remember thinking what a great group of students they were, eager to do pro life work and help in any way they could.

Well, we did do the service and Melissa designed a beautiful flyer for it. It was the beginning of a friendship as she shared the story of her siblings lost to abortion and began to work through her pain.

They beautiful flyer Melissa designed.

I will always remember the understanding and compassion Melissa had for her mom who had suffered abuse. Melissa was a girl on a mission, not only for herself or necessarily out of her own experience, but because she knew abortion was wrong and she saw the pain it caused to so many.

Melissa continued to help out when possible, taking on the reading of our sibling witness at many more "Afternoons of Prayerful Remembrance” as we moved it through the diocese each year, including the televised service from St. Patrick's by EWTN from January 2011 (you can get a copy of the service through EWTN as part of their "Cathedrals Across America" series.)

So, to me, it seems so very fitting, that Caldwell College would have a Memorial Service for Melissa this Thursday evening, January 23rd. If she were still alive I am sure she would be heading down to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. I am also sure she will be praying for us, and telling us to keep up the good fight, as she shares the day eternally with her siblings in everlasting life in the presence of Mercy HImself.

May the souls of Melissa and Jorge rest in peace. Amen.

Memorial for Melissa Periera
Thursday, January 23rd at 6pm
Caldwell College Chapel
120 Bloomfield Avenue · Caldwell, New Jersey 07006

Update: Article

That all being said I have had a theory from the beginning although of course it is just speculation.  She did not have a coat, they were talking in the garage and left the car on for the heat.  It was a tragic accident. I do not know Jorge, but from all I have read about him and knowing Melissa I do not believe it was intentional. In any case, we will probably never know for sure. I entrust their souls to Our Merciful Savior.