By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
Photographer: Alexandra Rojas
Seventh grader Vincent Alejo bears the processional cross as Father Luis Rivero kneels during a prayer service for victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School.
FORT LAUDERDALE | More than 100 pupils at St. Jerome School prayed for fellow students Feb. 26 in the wake of a deadly shooting in Parkland.
The middle school pupils, with some parents attending as well, prayed for strength and encouragement for Marjory Stoneman Douglas School. A shooting rampage there on Feb. 14 killed 17 people and wounded 16 more.
"We wanted to send our prayers to those students," said Alexandra Rojas, dean of students and a religious instructor at St. Jerome. The students at Stoneman Douglas School were scheduled to return to class on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Centerpiece of the St. Jerome service was a round dish in front of the altar, bearing 17 candles "in honor of those 17 sacred lives," Rojas said. "All life is sacred, and our thoughts and prayers do matter. We've been making that point to the students."
The service adapted materials sent from the archdiocese. Included was this prayer: "Through your great love, let all who need you, especially now, feel your presence and know your peace, as shown through your Son, Jesus Christ."
Father Luis Rivero, St. Jerome administrator, also offered a brief reflection.
Students themselves asked for the service, Rojas said. "They wanted to do something. That was admirable."
Photographer: Alexandra Rojas
Seventeen candles -- one for each of those killed during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School -- are placed before the altar at St. Jerome Church.
Afterward, the students told Rojas that "it was just what they needed," she said.
She admitted having a hard time, however, answering their questions in her religion class. But she stressed the need and power of prayer.
"They're tired of hearing that prayers don’t work," Rojas said. "I said, 'So am I.' Prayers are part of our Catholic identity."
She said that those in her religion class have been praying every day for the Stoneman Douglas victims and for their families.
Did she think it did any good? Rojas replied without hesitation: "Yes. We firmly believe that God listens to prayers and is with us during tragic times."
