Saint Rita of Cascia Catholic Church in Philadelphia chose the victims' families because they showed forgiveness to the gunman and his family. The national award is based on St. Rita's example of peace and forgiveness.

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A Catholic church in Philadelphia recognized the Amish families of students killed and wounded during the Oct. 2 shootings at West Nickel Mines School with an award Saturday night.

The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia bestowed its first National Peace Award on the families during a banquet at the Union League in Philadelphia.

Herman Bontrager, a Nickel Mines Accountability Committee board member, accepted the award on behalf of the families of the shooting victims.

The church selected the families for the inaugural award because of the forgiveness they demonstrated toward gunman Charles Roberts IV and his family.

Rita of Cascia was an Italian woman who died in 1457. Her husband, a minor civil servant, often found himself embroiled in disputes between rival political factions.

After he was ambushed and killed by one of the factions, she was quick to forgive his attackers. She later worked to resolve the differences between the two factions.

After her twin sons died within a year of her husband's killing, she became a nun.

The award, a bronze olive branch mounted on a wooden plaque, was designed to symbolize peace and forgiveness, said the Rev. Michael F. DiGregorio, St. Rita's pastor.

"There is a mural at our church of St. Rita holding an olive branch," DiGregorio said Wednesday. "It's a symbol of her role as a peacemaker, so it was appropriate to replicate the olive branch for this occasion."

Bontrager said although the Amish families did not want an award for forgiving Roberts, the recognition from Saint Rita of Cascia is significant.

"The fact their act of forgiveness through quiet witness was noticed by the parish is what really matters," Bontrager said. "The Nickel Mines community was very surprised to learn people around the world were inspired by their forgiveness.

"For them, it was never in question because they don't know how not to forgive."

Five girls were killed and five were wounded when Roberts opened fire inside the one-room schoolhouse in Bart Township. Roberts then killed himself.

Bontrager and his wife, Jeanette, attended Mass at the church before the banquet.

About 70 people attended the event and saw Bontrager receive the award.

"The simplicity of the award is very appropriate," Bontrager said. "I plan to present it to the Amish."

Bontrager spoke to the group for about 20 minutes.

"I talked about forgiveness," Bontrager said. "My hope was to connect with them and serve as a bridge between their community and our own in Nickel Mines."

E-mail: blovelace@lnpnews.com