"The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

With these words taken from the Order of Christian Funerals I want to send to you and to all your family my sincerest condolences on the loss of your nephew, John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife, Carolyn and her sister, Lauren

Every American Catholic feels close to your family for many reasons, never more so when Providence calls upon you to bear extra trials. I hope that the comfort that comes from the doctrine about the Communion of the Saints will strengthen in your hearts the conviction of the sanctity of life and that your brothers and sisters in the Faith join you in these sentiments. We are never totally separated from those we love parents, brothers, sisters, and friends who have gone before us.

Personally, I feel a certain closeness to you having served as Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, under Cardinal Bernard Law, from 1988 to 1995. Now that I am Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, I have two Church families to call upon for prayers for John, Carolyn, Lauren and you.

I will ask that your beloved dead be remembered in all the parishes of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico and the Diocese of Corpus Christi

Be assured of God's continuing love for you even in a difficult time and of my prayers for you. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May I remain,