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The family of Blessie Gotingco began the novena on May 15, timing it so that the final day of prayer would fall last Sunday, the one-year anniversary of Blessie’s death.
A man, who has name suppression, was convicted of Gotingco’s rape and murder at the High Court in Auckland on Friday.
Gotingco went missing on a Saturday night in 2014 after catching a bus to her Birkdale home from her work in Auckland’s city centre. Her body was found several days later at Eskdale Cemetery.
Gotingco family spokeswoman Ruth Money said the family was “celebrating Blessie’s life as their faith allows.”
“They’re a very strong faith-based family and they have a very strong Filipino community around them, so they have New Zealand-based family as well as the international family who have arrived to support them through the trial, so there will be traditional Filipino and faith-based celebrations of her life and for her.”
Blessie’s husband Antonio Gotingco has spoken before about the family’s strong Catholic faith.
Last year he said he believed everything happened for a reason, and that his wife’s death was “an instrument to awaken the whole country that the environment is changing and that we need to start making an effort to protect our neighbours.”
He acknowledged that faith in his only public words since the trial.
“May the grace of the Lord be with you all,” he told media gathered outside Auckland’s High Court on Friday.
After the trial, Money said the family were “extremely relieved” the trial was over.
“We wish to remember her for who she was rather than the evil that happened,” she said.
“Her smile would light up your heart and will continue to do so.”
Source
- Stuff.co.nz
- m.nzherald.co.nz
- Image: odt.co.nz
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