Jean and Scott Adam's Family Wants Donations to Go to St. Monica's

The family of Jean and Scott Adam, who were killed by Somali pirates earlier this week, is requesting that donations be made to the Music Program. The couple were active parishioners at the church, and Jean was a member of the church choir.

Also, the family has asked for cards to be sent in the care of the St. Monica Catholic Community. The address is 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA, 90403.

(Go here to read about family and friends mourning the deaths of the Adams. A collection of thoughts shared by Santa Monica Patch readers is here.)

A funeral and a memorial service are still being planned. In the meantime, Jean and Scott Adam will continue to be remembered at St. Monica's daily Masses, at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.

On Wednesday, a new statement from the church was posted on its Web site.

"The community of St. Monica is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jean and Scott Adam, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle," read the statement, which identified the other two Americans who were killed in the incident. "Jean and Scott were active members of St. Monica Catholic Community and were killed while doing what they loved, which was sharing the gift of faith. Their deaths show again that violence in any form destroys life and wreaks havoc. The call to us by the Gospel is to be messengers of peace and to be a community that builds peace. Our Savior Jesus Christ calls us to be people of peace and reconciliation.

"Jean and Scott put their faith into practice by travelling the world to give the gift of the Scriptures to people seeking hope," the statement continued. "We join today in mourning, prayer and remembrance with their family and friends, and those of Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle. May they rest in eternal peace, and may there be an end to the struggles of violence in this world."

On Tuesday, the family of Jean and Scott Adam issued a statement. "Our hearts are broken," it read. "Jean and Scott were taken from us in the worst possible way. While we want to grieve in private, we wish to extend our deepest gratitude to the brave men and women of the Navy and other military branches who risked their lives for our loved ones. God bless each and every one of you."

Editor's note: Kurt Orzeck is a parishioner at St. Monica's and previously served as a member of the church's Communications Committee.