In the Wake of Tragedy, Evergreen Parish Offers Prayer and Presence

In moments of darkness, Catholics in Evergreen are leaning on Christ’s light and each other’s presence to find healing.

(Photo provided)

As news broke on Wednesday afternoon, so did hearts all across Evergreen. Headlines, text messages and alerts all read words no parent ever wants to read: active shooter at Evergreen High School.

Under the weight of local sorrow, amid the drone of sirens and the anxiety of uncertainty, locals waited. Hundreds of police officers and rapid response teams poured into the quaint mountain town. A procession of school buses made their way to Bergen Meadow Elementary School — a designated reunification site, where parents waited for hours just to pull their children close. And piercing the tense atmosphere was the constant ding of a cell phone as news alerts and frantic messages poured in, all asking the same question: “Are you okay?”

“My heart is with the students, parents, and teachers at Evergreen High School. Today, we grieve for those critically shot and those left frightened and shaken,” said Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila in a statement Wednesday morning, expressing gratitude to law enforcement, first responders and medical personnel serving those affected.

“To our young people, know that Jesus is near you, hears your cries, and his Mother Mary holds you close. To hurting families, the Church is with you, and we lift you and your children up in prayer,” he continued. “May Christ bring comfort to your hearts and may Mary at the Foot of the Cross wrap you in her tender care.”

That night, with only a few hours’ notice, Christ the King Parish in Evergreen opened its doors to the community — Catholic and non-Catholic alike — and offered a sacred space for the community to come together, pray and seek comfort.

Father James “Jim” Fox, the parish’s pastor, opened the service speaking gentle words of peace. Then, in a moment as tender and timeless as Jesus Christ himself, Father Fox sang a song he remembered from his childhood parish in the 1970s.

Soon after, Eucharistic Adoration began — the Lord Jesus came to meet his people, brokenhearted, grieving, questioning. Deacon Ronnie Hyatt, a newly ordained deacon assigned to Christ the King, led those gathered in the Rosary, turning to the Blessed Mother, she who knows the weight of pain, loss and grief all too well.

“Our hearts are broken for the young lives touched by this tragedy,” said Deacon Ronnie Hyatt. “In moments when darkness feels overwhelming, we turn to the light of Christ. Jesus is with us. He weeps with us, he comforts the brokenhearted, and he calls us to be a community of hope and love for one another. I was really struck by [the] daily Mass readings that providentially came to us during these unsettling times.”

Following the Rosary, a period of silent prayer began. Counselors from St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities, made themselves available to offer one-on-one support and comfort.

“Caring for those in need emotionally and spiritually is as important, if not more so, than just the physical body.  What we experience emotionally and spiritually stays with us long after the body heals.  The community of Evergreen is in need right now,” said Gina Lanz, director of school counseling and psychology services at St. Raphael Counseling. She was one of three counselors — two of whom are Christ the King parishioners — on site to support the community.

“We understood, walking with those in Evergreen, that the healing journey begins for everyone with a personal presence,” she continued. “Victims of this tragedy asked to be with people, they sought out someone to listen to them, in person. Our St. Raphael Counseling team recognizes this is the greatest way to help another person — to be with, to care, to listen in a non-judgmental way and see with them what the possible next steps might be for each individual.”

At the same time, mere miles away, three unnamed minors were being treated at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, a Catholic hospital and part of the CommonSpirit network. In addition to the physical and medical care they received at the Catholic care center, victims were afforded the opportunity of receiving spiritual accompaniment as a chaplain and a deacon met with and consoled the family of one of the victims.

Christ the King’s service ended with a quiet Benediction, an assurance of Jesus’ presence with the community.

“Christ was welcomed into each person’s heart, filling the pause with his healing grace after a day of tragedy,” one parishioner shared.

Come morning, eight area schools closed, giving students, teachers, administrators, parents and the community an opportunity to begin processing the tragic events of the previous day.

“Coloradans have been in this dark place before,” that same parishioner continued. “Since Columbine, there have been 13 school shootings in the state. The questions are the same: Why here? Why now? Why ever? And then, inevitably: how do we hold each other through this?”

Students wandered the streets of Hiwan and Evergreen, swapping stories of where they had been, what they had felt and how their phones erupted with concerned messages from loved ones. Many spoke of interminable lines at Bergen Meadow — some students had not yet been reunited with family until after 6:00 p.m.

“The hours felt endless. The relief, overwhelming,” one parishioner said.

Again, Christ the King opened wide its doors to receive the community in compassion and care. Thanks to the dedicated professionals from St. Raphael Counseling and JeffCo Counseling, free mental health care was offered for all. A listening ear was ready and available for children, teens, adults and families.

Their faithful service was a reminder that no one was alone in this sorrow.

“It didn't matter whether the folks we accompanied in their pain were believers or not. The power of presence is what it means to be Christ for one another,” Lanz shared.

As a mental health professional and an Evergreen community member, the experience was doubly weighty for her.

“Being able to help one’s own community can be hard in the sense that one is more emotionally connected, and that can be difficult for objectivity, but on the other hand, it defines and strengthens the church community if we share our gifts and talents with those we worship with. It is a pure form of stewardship,” she expressed. “Fostering community in and through families and in faith can help prevent mental health tragedies. Being able to assist our parish is the same as assisting our family. We’re grateful.”

Of course, the needs of a grieving community do not stop the day after such a tragedy. Healing and grief will take much time.

But, through it all, two things remain clear: Jesus is with his people in their pain, and the Catholic community continues to show up.

In the days, weeks and months ahead, both Christ the King Parish and St. Raphael Counseling will continue to serve the needs of the Evergreen community. In the meantime, faithful from around the archdiocese are encouraged to pray and fast for our hurting brothers and sisters.