SW News: Bells of all churches in the French city of Nice tolled in a mournful tone at 8.45 am on Friday, October 29, commemorating the first anniversary of the attack on believers in the Basilica that left three people dead.

The day was marked by a memorial Mass celebrated in the Basilica by Bishop of Nice Monsignor Andre Marceau. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled in the Cathedral. As part of the commemorative events, there was an organ concert in which soprano Elizabeth Vidal performed. The son of one of the victims also rendered a song. In all government offices in the city, a moment of silence was observed to honor the memory of the three victims.

It was on the same day a year ago at around 9 am that three Catholics were brutally murdered in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption with a knife by an Islamist extremist. It was Nadine Devillers, Simone Barreto and Vincent Loques who lost their lives in the terror attack.

A monument in memory of the victims was unveiled in the evening on the premises of the basilica by their families. Entitled ‘The Dove of Peace’, the memorial is the creation of sculptor Theo Tobiasse. It was commissioned by Mayor Christian Estrosi in memory of the victims of the July 16, 2016, terror attack in the city. On that day, a Muslim extremist rammed a truck into a crowd that was watching the Bastille Day fireworks, leaving more than 80 dead.

On October 29, last year, Devillers, a mother of three children, and Simon Barreto had come to pray in the Basilica along with other parishioners when they were attacked by the Muslim terrorist. Her final words before succumbing to injuries were “Tell my children that I love them.” The third victim was sacristan Vincent Loques who had come to the cathedral around 8 in the morning to open the building for worship. He was killed while trying to help one of the women.