Catholic parish on Illinois campus provides comfort after shooting

Published: 2008-02-15

DEKALB, Ill. (CNS) -- As helicopters hovered noisily over the parking lot at Christ the Teacher Parish on the campus of Northern Illinois University, students, staff and parishioners gathered in the church to pray the rosary for victims of the Feb. 14 shooting on their campus. Five students died in the shooting, which took place about 3 p.m. when a man later identified as Stephen Kazmierczak, 27, opened fire with a shotgun and several handguns in a school auditorium. He shot at least 22 people and sent dozens of students running and crawling toward auditorium exits. The gunman then turned the gun on himself and died on the auditorium's stage. University officials said they had no motive for Kazmierczak's actions, but an investigation was continuing. As word of the shootings spread across the campus, buildings and dorms were locked down. Within hours, parishioners at Christ the Teacher Parish, home to the university's Newman Center, brought cartons of sodas and chips to the parish in preparation for students who might come to pray or seek comfort.

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