NEWS & VIEWS
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      BRISTOL, Connecticut (CWNews.com) - Father Robert Lysz, 50, was found murdered by parishioners at St. Matthew Church in Bristol on Friday morning after he failed to show up for morning Mass. Police arrested a suspect in the rectory a short time later.

      Michael Ouellette, 32, was charged with murder when police found him in the rectory with Father Lysz's credit cards. He was held on $1 million bond and scheduled for arraignment on Monday.

      Father Arthur Audet, associate pastor at the parish, said: "Father Lysz was a good priest and a good man. His nature was to want to help people." Hundreds of people gathered outside the church for a vigil on Friday evening to remember their pastor. "The death of a brother priest always touches the lives of all priests" said Archbishop Daniel Cronin of Hartford. "But the circumstances surrounding Father Lysz's death will profoundly impact all who knew him, and who served with him in his priestly ministry."

      Parishioners who showed up for the 7:30 am Mass on Friday found Father Lysz's body behind the altar after he failed to show up for the liturgy. Father Audet said the church must be reconsecrated before Mass can be held there again and the parish school will be used in the meantime. Father Lysz had served St. Matthew's parish since 1988.

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