On Thursday evening, students gathered in the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes to honor the victims of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. On Wednesday morning, two children were tragically killed and 17 were injured when a former student opened fire during a school Mass for the first week of school. For members of the University of Notre Dame community, the shooting was especially personal and close to home, including for students who attended the school previously.
Sophomores Molly Kolar and Annabelle Tautges, Notre Dame Club of Minnesota members, organized the prayer service to help students affected by the tragedy grieve. “We were heartbroken to learn of the devastating shooting that took place earlier today at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis. Our hearts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this unimaginable loss,” they shared in a statement to club members.
Fr. Nate Wills, a Saint Paul native and rector of Keough Hall, began the service by praying for the children affected. Wills prayed, “God, take our grief, our sadness, anger, disbelief or frustration to the feet of Mary, our mother, who felt the depth of human sorrow and brokenness.” He continued to appeal for mercy and courage to strengthen the community during the vigil.
Kolar read from Psalm 34:17, which reminded students that God will deliver them from their troubles. Senior Joe Kolar read from Revelation 21:3 before Wills shared St. John’s gospel. The gospel reminded students to have faith and trust in God. After the readings, Wills addressed the crowd, reminding them that they were gathered “to be people who stand in solidarity with those who have lost and in light of a tragedy that has hit our community.”
Wills invited students to spend 19 minutes in silent prayer and remembrance in honor of the victims. Some lit candles at the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes, embraced their friends or sat quietly in prayer. Club members also passed out a list of all the Catholic schools in the archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, many of which Notre Dame students attended.
Afterwards, Wills continued by offering petitions for the victims and their families, as well as healing and peace in the community. He concluded the service by leading students in the Our Father and the Notre Dame Alma Mater. Many students were deeply emotional, embracing one other in tears after the prayer.
In addition to the service, Notre Dame posted about the gathering on its social media pages, writing that “The Notre Dame community is heartbroken by the tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. We grieve with the families who lost loved ones, pray for the injured, and stand in solidarity with the Annunciation school family.”
