When he received the news of the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, the Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo García-Siller, was in a meeting with the priests of his archdiocese.
The archbishop and several priests immediately left the meeting and headed to Uvalde, where he visited the families of those injured in the shooting. That night, May 24, Archbishop García-Siller celebrated Holy Mass at Sacred Heart, a nearby parish where families had gathered to grieve and to pray.
That evening Archbishop García-Siller issued a statement, saying, “There are no words to adequately convey the deep sadness and sorrow and overwhelming shock at the incomprehensible loss of life.”
“The word tragedy” continued the archbishop “doesn’t begin to describe what occurred.”
Counseling and legal services
On May 25, the day after the massacre, Catholic Charities began to provide crisis relief to those suffering tragedy and loss in Uvalde. The organization announced they were sending “trauma-informed counselors” to provide care to all “who may need compassionate therapy including grief and loss, parenting concerns and adjustment, and anxiety, depression, and stress management.” In particular, these counselors are trained and ready to help children and families heal from trauma.