Shooting of Virginia Tech students 'tremendously sad,' bishop says

Published: 2007-04-16

BLACKSBURG, Va. (CNS) -- The April 16 shooting spree at Virginia Tech that left at least 32 people dead is "tremendously sad," said Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond. In a phone interview just hours after the shootings, Teresa Volante, Catholic campus minister at Virginia Tech, said she had sent out an electronic notice that the Newman Center chapel was open for anyone who wanted to stop in and pray. But she said the center, located just off the campus, was rather quiet at that time since the dormitories on campus were still locked down and the off-campus students had been instructed to stay away. "I'm here for students to talk to," she said. Later in the afternoon Debbie McClintock, a volunteer who came in to help, told Catholic News Service that a prayer service was scheduled for 7 p.m. at the center. She said people at the center were calm and were focused on helping anyone who came in. At St. Mary's Parish, the only Catholic parish in Blacksburg, the receptionist said the pastor, Father James Arsenault, had spent more than three hours at the hospital with those who were wounded before heading over to the university to help there. She said the church would be open all afternoon, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed for adoration, followed by a special Mass in the evening.

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