HUMBOLDT, Saskatchewan — Crying, hugging and shaking their heads
in grief, the people of Humboldt gathered at the local hockey arena 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,"
said the Rev. Sean Brandow, the Humboldt Broncos team chaplain and pastor of
Humboldt Bible Church.
Rev. Brandow had gone to the accident site shortly 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 something.
"I've received thousands of texts and even Scripture,"
he said. "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 occurred early in the evening 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 traveling north on a highway and
passing through an intersection, which had stop signs for traffic traveling
east and west. No charges have been filed.
Condolences poured into Humboldt from around the world, including
messages from Pope Francis, Queen Elizabeth and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Vatican 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 province 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. 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," he said. "I am very thankful that, at this
terrible time, the people of God here show Christ-like compassion 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.
Father Joseph Salihu, pastor of St. Augustine, participated 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 organize
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.
Organizers 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, as well as Hockey Night in Canada personalities
Don Cherry and Ron Maclean. Large photos of the team brought tears. Grief and
crisis counselors, including grief dogs, roamed the arena.
The Rev. Matteo Carboni, St. Andrew's Anglican minister and vice
chair of the Humboldt Ministerial Association, 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, better known as "The Lord is My Shepherd."
There was a moment of silence at 7:32 p.m., the time when the
puck would have dropped on the Broncos' playoff game in Nipawin.
The Rev. 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."
While the largest vigil was held in Humboldt, prayer services for
the victims and families were held across the province.
Writers from Canadian Catholic News combined for this
story.