June 28, 2024
Throughout the summer, the months known for family get-togethers and outdoor activities are often marred by stories of infants and children drowning. It is one of the most devastating tragedies a family can endure.
Joe McCurdy, Director of Operations for Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Bridgeport, says, “The summer is heart-breaking for us because we know we’re going to have to bury a child as a result of a drowning accident, which we’ve had to do for the past five years.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 4 years old, and it should be noted that almost 70 percent of these cases occur during “non-swim times.”
For more information about preventing toddlers from drowning, visit this website: (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Water-Safety-And-Young-Children.aspx)
There are several patron saints against drowning, including St. Adjutor of Vernon, a 12th-century knight of the First Crusade, born in Normandy, France, whose feast day we celebrate on April 30. Also, St. Radegunde (518-587), a religious sister who founded the Convent of the Holy Cross in Poitiers, France, and whose intercession has been credited with saving people who were drowning. Her feast is August 30. We pray for their intercession this summer and for the safety of all children around water.
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