St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Buffalo went into what the school described as a “soft lockdown” Feb. 9 after four people were injured and one killed in a shooting at about 10:55 a.m. at an Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo. The incident reportedly also included explosive devices.
The preK-8 school took precautions at the direction of the Wright County Sheriff’s Department, according to its principal, Alisa Louwagie. The school, which has 224 students, is about a 3-mile drive from the clinic.
“We can conduct school as usual,” Louwagie said, “but no one is allowed to enter or exit the building.”
Around 1 p.m., Louwagie was notified that students could be dismissed as usual.
“We pray for all those involved,” she said.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that five people were wounded and taken to area hospitals. A suspect was taken into custody, with police saying he had a history of being unhappy with health care he received.
In a letter to parishioners, St. Francis Xavier pastor Father Nathaniel Meyers said, “The attack upon the people at the Allina Health Clinic strikes at the very core of our humanity and the security that each person rightly deserves in accord with his or her dignity as a child of God.”
Since he heard the news of the shooting, he’s been reflecting on Psalm 130:1: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!” he said.
“In our sorrow, anger, fear, confusion, and bewilderment, I hope and pray the words of Psalm 130 will help us to find words that rightly express our emotions and provide us a way to bring our suffering, pain, and devastation to the Lord to experience His grace and healing,” he said.
He encouraged parishioners “to hold all involved in prayer.”
“Please give special attention to those who were injured and their families, but also remember the Allina staff that was present in the clinic and beyond as this is a time of great sadness for all of them,” he said. “Please also pray for those tasked with administering justice in this time and for our community as a whole to learn from this experience the way in which we can build a better and more peaceful society.”
He added: “The impact of this act of evil will reach far and wide in ways that perhaps none of us can yet anticipate, but the grace of God will also act in this moment and the merits of Our Suffering Lord will not be foreign to those who suffer the most acutely in our community.”
He said Deacon Paul Buck plans to lead a Holy Hour with rosary at St. Francis Xavier church 7 p.m. Feb. 11. The parish will livestream the prayer service through its Facebook page. Father Meyers noted he is currently in quarantine after a COVID-19 exposure, but is available by phone and, when he is able, happy to meet with people who would like spiritual and and pastoral support.
“Let us hold our community and those most devastated by this attack in our prayers, allowing Almighty God to enter into the depths of our pain and sorrow so as to lift all of us out of them into the promise of redemption and reconciliation,” he said. “God bless you and all of your loved ones.”
Archbishop Bernard Hebda likewise asked for prayers “for comfort and healing for all those touched by today’s violent attack at the Allina clinic in Buffalo.”
“Let us pray as well for peace and strength for their loved ones, for local first responders, and for community members who are painfully struggling with uncertainty and looking for answers,” he said in a Feb. 9 statement. “Every violent incident is a reminder that we live in a broken world. It will only be together, and with help from above, that we will be able to focus our lives on respecting all human life and seeing each other as God sees us — daughters and sons made in his image and likeness.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated as more information has become available.
