(St. Joseph News-Press) The monks of Conception Abbey have offered to participate in the funeral service of the man who killed their brothers Monday.

Lloyd Jeffress, 71, of Kearney, Mo., on Monday shot and killed Brother Damian Larson and the Rev. Philip Schuster and wounded two others before turning a gun on himself in the rear pew of the basilica.

“We don’t know what the family will want because we understand they are estranged, but the monks are willing to reach out to them and express compassion,” abbey spokesman Dan Madden said.

Rebecca Summers, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, said she wasn’t at all surprised by the monks’ offer.

“We don’t know much about Mr. Jeffress but are concerned he was so isolated and so hurt,” she said. “Every human being is a person of God. So to pray for him and his family seems very natural in our faith.”

Mr. Madden also said the monks’ decision, made in meetings Tuesday, just makes sense.

June 12, 2002
Monks offer funeral service
LINDSEY V. COREY
St. Joseph News-Press