Congregation prays for shooting victims at annual Mass for students

Published: 2008-02-19

CHICAGO (CNS) -- An annual Mass for college students living and studying at campuses in the Chicago Archdiocese and the Joliet Diocese offered a chance to pray for victims of the shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb the day before. About 300 college students, faculty and staff gathered for the Mass Feb. 15 at Madonna della Strada Chapel at Jesuit-run Loyola University Chicago. On their way into the church, worshippers had the chance to sign a memorial book for the victims of the shooting. Five students were killed and 16 were injured before the shooter, Stephen Kazmierczak, took his own life. "There's no time like now for a Mass," said Chris Paolleli, a graduate student in Northwestern University's School of Education. "We've been working with the Catholic campus community to come together and express our condolences." During the Mass, which was celebrated by Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George with Joliet Bishop J. Peter Sartain and priests who act as campus ministry chaplains, the cardinal spoke about the problem of evil.

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