The Catholic Leader - 22 April

17 / 28

17
The Catholic Leader, April 22, 2018
News
In Canada, prayers, tears for victims of Humboldt Broncos tragedy
Tragedy: Mourners pray during an April 8 vigil at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, to honour members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team who were killed in a bus accident.
Photos: CNS
Rallying help after crash
CRYING, hugging and shaking their
heads in grief, the people of Hum-
boldt, Saskatchewan, gathered at the
local hockey arena on April 8 for an
interfaith service to mourn 15 people
who died after the bus carrying the
town’s junior hockey team collided
with a truck.
“I don’t want to be here, but it’s good that we
are,” the Humboldt Broncos team chaplain and
pastor of Humboldt Bible Church Reverend Sean
Brandow said.
Rev Brandow had gone to the accident site
soon after the collision.
“I walked up on a scene I never want to see
again, to sounds I never want to hear again,” he
said.
“To hear groaning and panic and fear and
confusion and pain. ... All I saw (that night) was
darkness, and I had nothing. Nothing.
“I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to have some-
thing.
“I’ve received thousands of texts and even
Scripture.
“But I needed to hear from God.”
The 15 dead included 10 hockey players
between the ages of 16 and 21, the team coach,
radio broadcaster, bus driver and other team
personnel.
The accident happened on April 6 when a
bus taking the team to a playoff hockey game
collided with a transport truck on a highway near
the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
Fourteen others on the bus were injured.
Police are investigating and have not provided
any details about the cause of the collision.
The bus was travelling north on a highway and
passing through an intersection, which had stop
signs for traffic travelling east and west.
No charges have been filed.
Condolences poured into Humboldt from
around the world, including messages from Pope
Francis, Queen Elizabeth and United States
President Donald Trump.
The Holy See secretary of state sent blessings
on behalf of the Pope.
“Informed of the injury and tragic loss of life
caused by the road traffic accident in the prov-
ince of Saskatchewan involving young hockey
players, His Holiness Pope Francis sends his
condolences to those who have lost love ones,
and commends the souls of the deceased to the
mercy of almighty God,” he wrote.
“To all in the community at this difficult time,
Pope Francis sends his blessing.”
Saskatoon Bishop Mark Hagemoen, whose
diocese includes Humboldt, read the Pope’s
message during an afternoon service at Holy
Family Cathedral in Saskatoon.
“We don’t know why tragedy and disaster
come, but we do know the one who holds us
throughout that tragedy, and we celebrate today
that the one who holds us is one of mercy,”
Bishop Hagemoen said during the service on
Divine Mercy Sunday.
Bishop Hagemoen attended the evening prayer
service at the Elgar Petersen Arena and Uniplex
in Humboldt and offered a final blessing.
“Lord God, you are the light that illumines the
darkness,” he prayed.
“Continue to lead us into your light.”
Earlier, he sent a message of condolences and
prayers to those affected by the tragedy.
“God continues to respond to us, and now he
responds to the people of Humboldt and other
parts of Western Canada who are profoundly
affected by this terrible tragedy,” Bishop Ha-
gemoen said.
“I am very thankful that, at this terrible time,
the people of God here show Christ-like com-
passion and care through such a community of
support.”
The interfaith service was live-streamed and
watched across the province, including at St
Augustine Catholic Church just up the street
from the arena.
Pastor of St Augustine Fr Joseph Salihu par-
ticipated in the vigil.
He said as soon as news of the accident spread
across town, “all the ministers came as one ...
we drove straight to the Uniplex to be with the
families”.
“We just stayed with the people and waited,”
he said.
“We were there all together, and that is what
gave us the idea to organise this vigil.
“Coming together tonight is a powerful sign
that these families are not alone in their anguish.
“We need to remember that, after the funerals,
these people will still need our presence.”
A Go-Fund-Me page was set up to collect
donations for families.
Organisers hoped to raise $10,000 but, in less
than 48 hours, donations exceeded $4 million.
The prayer service was attended by Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau, Saskatchewan Premier
Scott Moe, and Hockey Night in Canada person-
alities Don Cherry and Ron Maclean.
Large photos of the team brought tears.
Grief and crisis counsellors, including grief
dogs, roamed the arena.
St Andrew’s Anglican minister and vice chair
of the Humboldt Ministerial Association Rever-
end Matteo Carboni led the service.
“We remember the words of Jesus, who told
us: ‘You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will
turn into joy’,” Rev Carboni said.
“We need each other to make this promise a
reality.”
Bishop Bryan Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic
Eparchy of Saskatoon proclaimed Psalm 23, bet-
ter known as “The Lord is My Shepherd”.
There was a moment of silence at 7.32pm, the
time when the puck would have dropped on the
Broncos’ playoff game in Nipawin.
Reverend Brenda Curtis, of Westminster
United Church, led a closing prayer: “Humboldt
family and friends, a quilt of love has been
placed around our shoulders and our community
as our brothers and sisters around the world have
held us in their care,” she said.
While the largest vigil was held in Humboldt,
prayer services for the victims and families were
held across the province.
CNS
In prayer: Mourners embrace during an April 8 vigil at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt,
Saskatchewan, to honour members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team who
were killed in a bus accident.
Survivor: Humboldt Broncos’ Nick Shumlanski, just
released from the hospital, is comforted by a woman
during a vigil at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt,
Saskatchewan.