Jastine Valdez The chaplain where tragic Jastine Valdez [pictured] attended college has said the tightknit community of students is devastated by the news of her death.
Sr Bernadette Purcell – who has spoken to Jastine’s mother – said the family is “devastated” by what happened to the 23-year-old but said she believed “their Faith will help them get through it”.
Jastine’s body was found on Monday in south Co. Dublin after she had been reported abducted on Saturday. Gardaí searching for her assailant shot dead Mark Hennessy, the driver of the car she was reportedly bundled into on Sunday night, and say they found a note that led to the location of her body.
Praying
Sr Bernadette told The Irish Catholic that like many people she and others at the Institue of Technology at Tallaght (ITT) had been praying for Jastine’s safe return.
She said that “everyone is totally upset by the news. We have set up a memorial with flowers and a photograph of Jastine and people have been signing books of condolences”.
Sr Berandette – who spent 15 years working in the Philippines – said the Filipino community in Ireland have been rallying around the family.
“Of all the different nationalities that have come to Ireland, the Filipino community stand out for their tremendous Faith and devotion.
“Their Faith is huge – Filipinos wear their Faith on their sleeves. The mention of God is done very comfortably. They [the family] will get through this because of their Faith, but it’s devastating. A young girl, just starting out in life – there are almost no words,” Sr Bernadette said.
The chaplain said that amongst the students the loss was being acutely felt by Jastine’s immediate peers in her class. “They’re a small class, and they bonded very well together – they’re really feeling it”.
She said that many people in the college community had been shocked by the random nature of the violence. “Coming after the death of Ana Kriegel [in Lucan] people are really mourning the loss of two young girls at the start of their lives”.