The following comes from an Aug. 14 story in the Angelus, the LA archdiocese online paper.
The parish communities of Santa Rosa de Lima Church in San Fernando and Guardian Angel Church in Pacoima are mourning the loss of two beloved parishioners, who were shot and killed on their way to Mass early Aug. 24 in an apparent series of random shootings in the San Fernando Valley.
In San Fernando, a young woman in a wheelchair, accompanied by her family, was shot and killed shortly before 6 a.m., as she and her family were in their car. The family reportedly attended early Sunday Mass every week at Santa Rosa de Lima. The woman’s parents were also shot and were hospitalized; two younger twin siblings suffered minor injuries.
Family members and parish staff described the family as well-loved and respected in the parish community, members of Santa Rosa de Lima for almost 20 years, and actively involved in parish life.
Less than an hour after that attack, a random shooting also claimed the life of Gloria Tovar, 59, who had been a parishioner of Guardian Angel for 15 years. Father Steven Guitron, pastor, told The Tidings that Gloria was a very active and devoted parishioner, alongside her husband Santiago.
Parents and grandparents, the Tovars both served as ushers, and Gloria also ministered to the sick. On the morning of the shooting she was picking up a fellow minister to the sick to attend the 7 a.m. Mass together, and following the service they were going to take Communion to the homebound, explained Father Guitron….
To read the entire story, click here.
May these innocent souls rest in peace and in God’s love and mercy. I pray that the authorities figure out who did this horrendous act of violence.
That’s why we must be ready spiritually, we never know when God’s permitted will or ordained will, will take place! May these wonderful people rest in peace and are right now with Our Lord and Our Lady!
This is tragic on so many counts. We must pray for the families, for the injured and those that were killed. We must also pray that someday people will not shoot other people. Every week, in this country, people are shot by others or be the police. Nine year old girls are allowed to shoot uzi automatic machine guns for fun. We must pray that the killing will stop. We must pray that shooting others doesn’t continue to be a oh-hum event that we brush off like so much dust.
Bob One, “We must pray that shooting others doesn’t continue to be a oh-hum event that we brush off like so much dust”? It seems to me that ‘shooting’s ARE getting ALL the attention these days! Other forms of murder? Not so much! (THINK: surgical abortion, chemical abortion, drugging with dehydration,)
May these poor souls, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, and may the perpetrators be found.