CHARLOTTE — People gathered to pray at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte the day after an on-campus shooting at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte killed two and wounded four people at the north Charlotte university.
“In the wake of yesterday’s shootings across the street, our hearts are broken and our security shaken,” Father Patrick Winslow, pastor, said in his homily at the 12:15 p.m. Mass May 1.
The Catholic parish of 2,300 families is across N.C. 49 from the UNCC campus and serves the university’s student population through the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic Campus Ministry.
“In moments such as these, we feel helpless,” Father Winslow said. “I encourage you to cling to your faith and to one another. In faith, we know that our Blessed Lord, who was Himself unjustly slain and whose security was often threatened, is close to us and that in the end God will make right these wrongs.”
UNCC student Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22, was arrested April 30 after six people were shot on the campus and charged with two counts of murder, four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and charges related to shooting a gun on a school campus.
Riley Howell, 21, of Waynesville, and Reed Parlier, 19, of Midland, were both killed. Rami Alramadhan, 20, of Saudi Arabia; Sean Dehart, 20, of Apex; Emily Haupt, 23, of Charlotte; and Drew Pescaro, 19, of Apex, were injured in the shooting. Three of them remained hospitalized in critical condition the day following the shooting.
"This is the saddest day in UNC-Charlotte’s history. Earlier this evening, the unthinkable happened on our campus. At approximately 5:40 p.m., an individual opened fire in a UNC-Charlotte classroom, cutting short the lives of two members of our community and seriously injuring four others," UNCC Chancellor Philip Dubois said in a statement following the shooting. "The entire UNC-Charlotte community shares the shock and grief of this senseless, devastating act. This was an attack on all of Niner Nation."
April 30 was supposed to be the students' last day of classes and the campus was on lockdown for 12 hours.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church’s pastor also addressed the shooting at a special prayer service late afternoon Wednesday.
Father Winslow recalled how after Christ's resurrection, His first words to the huddled and frightened Apostles were: "Peace be with you."
Christ's peace is abiding and everlasting, he noted, and can always be counted upon, just as the Apostles learned.
"This afternoon we too are huddled together with some fear and confusion, and like the Apostles, we listen to hear the same words spoken to us, echoing throughout history with the force of the Spirit: 'Peace be with you.'"
At this time, Father Winslow said, people are praying for peace for the souls of the two students who were killed, peace and healing for the four students who were wounded, and peace for their families and friends.
"We also pray that those in our community in the University City area and national leaders find some way to prevent these occurrences into the future," he said.
"We want to live peaceful lives."
He concluded, "In the face of such difficulties we realize quickly we have nothing to console us apart from our faith and one another. Cling to both, for the Lord God is the One who can provide us peace. And each one of us can help one another feel (peace) and find consolation in this moment."
"In the wake of yesterday’s shootings across the street, our hearts are broken and our security shaken. In moments such as these, we feel helpless. I encourage you to cling to your faith and to one another." — Father Patrick Winslow, pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Father Innocent Amasiorah, UNCC’s Campus Minister, was on campus during the afternoon but had already left for the day. He started seeing messages from the students telling him, "I'm OK." That's when he learned of the shooting and that several students involved in Campus Ministry were on lockdown inside buildings on campus. He said he offered them messages of comfort before joining some of them in the area where they were evacuated.
"This is something that people can't imagine," he said. "These tragedies unfortunately do occur around us. We can comfort one another, share in each other’s pain at this time. We are strongly united in comforting each other."
Father Innocent planned to gather with students on campus Wednesday to pray the rosary prior to the prayer service at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
"As yesterday was the last day of classes, today should be the first day of joy. Instead, it's a day of anxiety and fear," he said. He said he hopes gathering in prayer and allowing the students to share their feelings will help ease the tension and allow for healing.
“The Catholic Campus Ministry is in solidarity with UNCC community as we extend our prayers for God’s consolation to all persons affected by yesterday’s shooting tragedy," added Mary Wright, diocesan director of Campus Ministry. "In particular, our hearts and thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives, those injured, the entire UNCC community.
"We are grateful to the courageous first responders who sprang into action to help others, and to our members who instantly became one another’s keepers. As we all heal gradually, even as this tragedy remains in our mind for time to come, we pray that we become stronger united in love for one another and for all.”
A candlelight vigil was also held on campus Wednesday evening.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church donated more than 1,700 candles for the campus vigil, to be lighted in memory of Ellis Parlier and Riley Howell and in honor of the four other students who were wounded, Father Winslow said.
In addition, St. Gabriel Church, located at 3016 Providence Road in Charlotte, will also honor the victims during its First Friday Mass this week at 7 p.m. May 3.
— Catholic News Herald