Catholics and members of the Twin Cities community continued to pray, offer various types of support, and grieve the day after a deadly shooting at a school Mass at Annunciation in Minneapolis.
Aug. 28, dozens of bouquets of flowers were placed along the sidewalk in front of the Minneapolis church. Lit candles and stuffed animals were interspersed throughout floral arrangements and flower wreaths. Handmade signs expressed love and prayers. Chalk art on the church’s sidewalk and on a short retaining wall outside the school contained messages like “God is good all the time, all the time God is good” and “We are spirit strong.” A large wooden cross stood on the sidewalk.
The memorial was for two children, ages 8 and 10, who died in the shooting the morning of Aug. 27. City officials said in an Aug. 28 news release that 18 others were hurt, including 15 children and three adults.
Annique London, 55, and a parent who has been involved with the school for the past 11 years, was among those organizing flowers at the memorial.
“I had three daughters that came through the school; the youngest just graduated in May. I’m a community member and (I) just came up here today to pay my respects with my daughters and help my youngest process what happened,” London said.
London said she posted a request for food, water and buckets for the flowers to social media. She said she expected people to continue bringing flowers “throughout the day and in the evening.”
“We’re going to keep them watered and beautiful,” she said.
The closeness of the Annunciation community has mattered to London.
“People are all family here, whether or not you’re a parishioner. I mean, we’re all members of this community,” London said. “I lost my husband seven and a half years ago to cancer, and this community was absolutely amazing to our family. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing they were.”
Having received such support in a time of need compelled London to support and mourn alongside those present at the memorial.
“I think this is faith in the way that it should be — people coming to give hugs; to look other people in the eye and tell them that you love them; to have a beautiful demonstration from the community; to care for the staff, the students and those that have passed away,” London said. “This is just the walk of faith.”
Dozens of people varying in age gathered before the memorial. A group of five women began reciting the rosary in front of the church, with others joining in. People exchanged hugs and words of comfort.
Ahmed Warsame said he was driving by the church and school on his way to get gas when he said, “something just compelled me to come here and to be around other people.”
“It’s one of those things that you never thought would happen to your city, your neighborhood, your community,” said Warsame, 25, who grew up in south Minneapolis. “And it’s still kind of hard to process this.”
Warsame, who is Muslim, felt it important to pay his respects and to mourn with the community by visiting the memorial.
“This is a great neighborhood and seeing people here of different religious faiths and different backgrounds all coming together to show solidarity, to show support, it goes to show you that even in the darkest moments, we can still find a way to come together,” Warsame said.
London echoed the importance of reaching out to others.
“What yesterday’s violence showed us is how many people need love and caring, and that we need to always be looking to our neighbors and offering help when they need help,” London said. “And if we did that, love will solve more problems than hate.”
As community members gathered near Annunciation church and school, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said members of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have been working “with the parish and school teams to make sure they have the support and resources they need at this time and beyond.”
Among those offices working alongside Annunciation faculty and staff are the archdiocesan Office for the Mission of Education and the archdiocesan Office of Clergy Services.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis officials reported Minneapolis police are coordinating with the St. Paul Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and other metro area law enforcement agencies to expand patrols around all schools within Minneapolis during the next two weeks.
Additionally, prayer services Aug. 28 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul and the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis followed evening vigils held Aug. 27 by various community organizations — including a prayer service at Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield that hundreds attended.
Father Joseph Johnson, pastor of the Cathedral, and Father Daniel Griffith, pastor of the Basilica, both extended their prayers to the Annunciation community.
“Children are the future of our society. Their innocence is a beautiful reminder of all that is good in humanity,” Father Johnson wrote, in part, in a statement posted to social media. “They should always be protected. They are our hope that someday we may live in a community where we do a better job of loving one another as Christ has taught us to do. We are called to be the light of Christ in this dark moment of tragedy at Annunciation church and school. We also remember those killed or wounded in other local shootings … . Please join us in praying for those who were killed, those who were wounded, and those who grieve for lost loved ones. We pray for the school children whose sense of safety has been shattered,” Father Johnson wrote. “We pray also for those who serve the needs of others as teachers, healthcare workers, and public safety officers.”
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those who were killed and to those who were injured in the school shooting … . Our heartfelt prayers and spiritual closeness are extended to those who are grieving, to those who have been injured, and to all those who are suffering at this time,” Father Griffith wrote, in part, in a statement posted to social media. “As people of faith and people of the Twin Cities community, we will come together in prayer and in working for greater justice and peace in our communities, our nation, and throughout the world.”
Efforts to fundraise for the Annunciation community have also begun.
The Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) has established the Hope and Healing Fund to support Annunciation and its families as well as help to provide for the needs of the church and school in the aftermath of the shooting.
Those who want to contribute to the fund can do so online at tinyurl.com/y7e64mhj.
