Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy mourns for two beloved students, Janine Lieu and Paul Sanders, after a tragic accident that took place on the first weekend in February.

On Saturday afternoon, four of our students drove down to Combermere in a minivan belonging to one of them, on a personal trip. At some point during the trip, they drove onto the frozen lake with the minivan and it went through the ice.  Two students made it out but Janine and Paul did not survive. 

The trip was not an Academy-sponsored event, and the school was at the time on a pre-scheduled three day study break, February 2-4.  The entire community is shocked and saddened, and our focus is on prayer, mutual support, and consolation of family and friends. We invite all concerned to add their prayers to those of the families and friends.

Students are visibly saddened but are finding comfort in the support of their friends, faculty, staff, and concerned members of the community.  Several priests, deacons, and trained psychologists have been continually present to the Academy community for consolation and grief counseling.

There has been a steady stream of both spontaneous and organized prayer services in response to this tragic accident, most of them held in the very supportive local parish church of St. Hedwig.  Masses, rosaries, and
all-night vigils have been and will continue to be held.

We greatly appreciate the continued prayers of all concerned people throughout what will no doubt be a long and difficult grieving process.

OLSWA extends its deepest sympathy to the families of Janine and Paul.  We are keeping you close in prayer.