Published: October 28, 2010 12:00 PM
Updated: October 28, 2010 12:15 PM
The family of the Kamloops Catholic bishop who was brutally beaten in an apparently unprovoked attack a week ago today at a downtown church is praying for change.
Kamloops Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop David Monroe’s sisters issued a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 25.
“Bishop Monroe’s family would like to thank the many people involved in facilitating the recovery of their brother, including hospital staff, clergy and all of those who have responded to this tragedy and are actively praying on his behalf,” the statement reads.
“The expressed outpouring of compassion and prayers of people throughout the continent has been heartening.
“Please know that the bishop is making daily progress, which is welcome and positive news.”
Monroe was savagely attacked at the rectory of Sacred Heart Cathedral on Nicola Street at about 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22.
Thirty-year-old John Bandura is facing charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon in relation to the beating.
Monroe is believed to have been stabbed with a pen before being beaten with a microwave-over door.
The Crown alleges Bandura — who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder — was in the midst of a psychotic episode in which he was fixated on religion when the beating took place.
Monroe is in serious but stable condition at Royal Inland Hospital and his condition is said to be improving.
Bandura was arrested three hours after the beating, after allegedly swimming across the South Thompson River and hiding in a shed on his father’s property at G&M Trailer Park.
On Monday, Oct. 25, Bandura was ordered by a Kamloops provincial court judge to undergo a 30-day fitness assessment — a series of tests to determine an accused’s mental competency to stand trial.
In the statement, the bishop’s family also issued words of hope for Bandura.
“The sorrow of this experience is not restricted to the bishop’s natural family, nor to his spiritual family,” it reads.
“The sorrow is also experienced by another family who is aching for their son’s recovery.
“Our prayer is that some good will come from this tragedy.”
Bandura is slated to return to court on Nov. 25.
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Bishop’s sister, attacker’s mom share thoughts
By MIKE YOUDS
Daily News Staff Reporter
Bishop David Monroe is recovering “exponentially” from a severe beating, two of his sisters said Wednesday as they expressed gratitude to Kamloops for its caring ways.
“Let’s just say he’s doing a lot of things he couldn’t do a few days ago,” said Barb Macaulay, who rushed from Victoria when she learned early Saturday of the previous night’s attack on her 69-year-old brother.
The family has been overwhelmed by the support from the parish, community and diocese since the assault.
They also wanted a chance to speak with the family of John Bandura, the mentally ill man charged with assaulting Monroe, out of sympathy for their circumstance.
Macaulay had that chance Wednesday.
“We had about a 20-minute conversation with his mom,” she said. “She was talking about the difficulties of having a son with these difficulties. She was feeling a lot of sorrow on our behalf.”
Macaulay and her sister, Margaret Taddei, said the family felt it essential to make that connection and lend mutual support.
“I think it’s what we had around us all the time when we were growing up,” a sense of helping others in the community, Taddei said. “We were called to have compassion and understanding.”
“En route as I was driving up, I was considering what (the Banduras’) experience might be like,” Macaulay said. “I know how powerless they feel and how hard it is on them.”
The sisters said they don’t want to raise expectations prematurely in the early days of their brother’s recovery, but they were optimistic about his progress.
When they visited Monroe three days after the attack, they sang a song together that suggested his memory is good. As a young family, they used to sing songs and recite poetry on the way home from the beach in Vancouver.
“And David started to sing along, and that was really something.”
During the ordeal the sisters have discovered how much respect and love the bishop has in the Cariboo Diocese, to the extent where they’ve had to turn down requests for hospital visits. Too many visits might compromise his healing, they felt.
“We appreciate their attachment up here and there will be a time when visits will be beneficial to his recovery,” Taddei said.
But now, although he is on the mend, he must have privacy to fully recover.
“Even soon after he was saying, ‘Let’s get out of here. I have things I should be doing.’ You have to figure he’s really tough.”
The bishop’s family wanted to convey a communitywide message in a letter that is published here today.
“Our gratitude to Kamloops because it’s evident they are a community and people care for one another,” Taddei said.
“It’s palpable,” Macaulay added.
A Statement On Behalf of Bishop Monroe’s Family:
“Bishop Monroe’s family would like to thank the many people involved in facilitating the recovery of their brother, including hospital staff, clergy and all of those who have responded to this tragedy, and are actively praying on his behalf.
“Our family is grateful to Margaret Brown, health service administrator of Royal Inland Hospital, for her support and compassion, and to the superb nursing staff whose humanity and professionalism are remarkable. Particular gratitude is due to Viktor Gundel, hospital chaplain, whose wisdom, experience and unique insight have been invaluable.
“We feel strong confidence in the quality of care that our brother will continue to receive.
“The expressed outpouring of compassion and prayers of people throughout the continent has been heartening. Please know that the bishop is making daily progress, which is welcome and positive news.
“The sensitive, respectful and inclusive concern shown for Bishop Monroe and his family by Monsignor Jerry Desmond and the clergy of the diocese is most appreciated. In addition to assuming added responsibilities, they have been involved in related communications and planning.
“Bishop Monroe’s sisters are reassured by the sincere affection of his ‘other’ family.
“The sorrow of this experience is not restricted to the bishop’s natural family, nor to his spiritual family. The sorrow is also experienced by another family who is aching for their son’s recovery.
“Our prayer is that some good will come from this tragedy.