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March 18, 2010

Church plans showof supportfor family

BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer

BY BETTY ADAMS

Staff Writer

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be fasting and praying this weekend for the welfare of two of their own who were critically injured in an attack in their Pittston home early Tuesday morning.

William G. Guerrette Jr., 48, and his daughter Nicole, 10, remain hospitalized in Maine suffering from stab wounds. Authorities said Thursday both remain in critical condition but refused to divulge more details, saying they want to protect the family's privacy.

Mark Dawson, bishop of the Augusta stake, said the Guerrettes became part of the Gardiner branch of the church when it was formed at the beginning of this year.

"Willie and his family are members of the church," Dawson said.

He said Guerrette served as a counselor in Dawson's church for several years, and news that his family was attacked in a home invasion brought calls from members asking how they could be of help. Some have been assisting the family at the hospitals.

"We all are close to their family, and we can't all be there," Dawson said. "We would crowd the place out."

Church members will participate this weekend in their homes in a special, voluntary fast set up on behalf of the family.

"We believe in fasting for special purposes, sometimes for inspiration, sometimes for prayer," Dawson said Thursday. "We believe it's a way for us to be more in tune with the spirit. This is a good reason for us to have a fast."

Dawson said anyone is invited to join the Augusta stake and other church members in the fast, which he described as "simply not eating for a day and praying and being spiritual."

He said participation is voluntary and that many church members in the southern part of the state might participate as well.

Dawson said church members will continue to assist the family.

"I'm sure they'll need a lot of help and support in the days and weeks and months ahead," he said.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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