The Catholic Church in the Philippines is mourning three students killed in a school shooting, with one priest spending the day at the scene to console grieving parents.
The Archdiocese of Palo, which covers Tacloban City, said the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School left three students dead and at least 20 others wounded — a tragedy that the archdiocese said should prompt deeper reflection on the formation of young people and the values imparted to them.
In a statement issued after the attack, Palo Archbishop John Du expressed shock and sorrow over what has been described as one of the deadliest school shootings in recent Philippine history.
"The Archdiocese of Palo is greatly shocked and grieving on the horrific act of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives during the school shooting incident that happened in San Jose National High School, Tacloban City," the archbishop said.
"As we pray for the victims and mourn with their families and loved ones, our thoughts and prayers also go to all those who have in one way or another been affected by this tragedy — the school and community, the families of the students and the society which have nurtured our young people."
Du said the tragedy should lead Filipinos to examine how children and young people are being formed by families, communities, and society.
"This tragedy challenges us all to reflect on how we (our nation, our families and communities) have raised our children and young people and on the values we have imparted to them," he said.
"Let us unite and work together that this kind of tragedy will never happen again."
The archbishop assured victims and their families of the Church's continued prayers and support, invoking God's healing mercy upon those affected by the violence.
A priest's ministry of presence
Among the first Church leaders to visit the school after the shooting was Father Ivo Velazquez, parish priest of St. Roch the Healer Parish.
The priest said he first learned of the incident while attending the opening academic ceremonies of the archdiocese's major seminary.
"I wasn't there when the shooting happened. I was at the apertura del curso at the theologate. But out of distraction I happened to glance at Facebook during the long inaugural discourse and got to see what was happening," Velazquez told EWTN News.
After lunch, he proceeded directly to the school.
"The atmosphere was oppressive," he recalled. "My task was very simple — to check on the people. No grand theological messages. I checked on the security guard, and some of the teachers who were still there."
The priest said his role was primarily to listen as teachers, school personnel, and survivors recounted their experiences.
"The most difficult for me was how to slowly approach the parents of the victims," he said.
Yet he discovered that the simplest gesture often opened the door to consolation.
"But the best way — as I got to learn — was the simplest: to ask for the name of their child. And then I just simply listened as the tears rolled down my cheeks."
"I realized that I have never left school," he added. "I continue to learn what it means to shepherd."
In a reflection posted on social media after spending the day with victims and their families, Velazquez described the emotional toll of ministering in the aftermath of the tragedy.
"Today was a heavy day," he wrote.
"That it was supposed to be like any Monday seems to make it even heavier to bear."
The priest recounted meeting parents who had lost children in the attack and listening to survivors struggling to process what they had witnessed.
"To be at a loss as to what to say and what to do in the presence of those who had lost a child in the most nightmarish way possible," he wrote.
Velazquez particularly remembered a grieving mother who asked him to pray for her daughter and for her husband. Another mother shared how her son had reportedly helped shield others from danger.
As he walked through classrooms where violence had erupted only hours earlier, Velazquez prayed for healing.
"Upon the spilled blood still on the floor I implored the application of the spotless blood of the Lamb to cleanse and heal all those lives that had been affected," he said.
"Lord, in our burdens lift us up. In our sadness console us, our wounds do heal, and use our hands to uplift, to bless, and restore."
Catholic educators call for deeper reforms
The tragedy also prompted a response from the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), which expressed "profound alarm and deep sorrow" over the shooting and a recent stabbing incident at another school.
"These tragic events, which claimed lives and inflicted serious injuries, mark a harrowing escalation from bullying and peer conflicts to outright killings," CEAP said.
"Schools, meant to be sanctuaries of learning, growth, and formation, are now turning into places of fear and violence."
The association called on government agencies, educational institutions, and families to pursue "urgent, holistic reform that prioritizes integral human development over purely technical goals."
Investigation continues
Police have taken into custody two students, aged 14 and 15, who allegedly carried out the attack. Authorities said the suspects used a pistol and a .38-caliber revolver, both of which had been traced to their registered owners.
Investigators are examining reports that the suspects had experienced prolonged bullying and are also probing possible influences from violent online content and gaming platforms.
Philippine authorities have since ordered the temporary blocking of an online game being reviewed as part of the investigation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed government agencies to strengthen security measures in schools nationwide. Meanwhile, the Department of Education has pledged medical, psychological, and psychosocial support for students, teachers, and families affected by the tragedy.
As Tacloban continues to grieve, Church leaders have urged the faithful to pray for healing and reconciliation.
"May we find strength in faith, compassion in our hearts, and hope in God who remains close to the brokenhearted," the San Jose Parish, Tacloban City, posted in the aftermath of the shooting.
