VANCOUVER — Archbishop J. Michael Miller reacted with sadness and called for prayers after a man drove an SUV into a crowd of people at a Vancouver Filipino street festival Saturday night, killing 11 people and injuring numerous others.
In a letter Sunday morning, Archbishop Miller said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the tragic events,” adding that a joyful gathering to honour Filipino heritage had been “overshadowed by sorrow and shock.”
Describing Vancouver’s Filipino community as “a vibrant and faith-filled part of our Archdiocese,” he said their “spirit of hope, resilience, and deep trust in God’s providence shines even amid darkness.”
He invited the community to “come together in prayer, asking the Lord to pour out his mercy upon those affected” and strengthen “all who are carrying heavy hearts.”
He closed by praying, “May our Blessed Mother intercede for us, bringing comfort and healing to Vancouver.”
Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith, who will be installed as Archbishop of Vancouver next month, sent a message of condolence and sympathy to the Filipino community.
“This is a tragedy that is beyond words,” he said. “I’m sure no one can imagine the pain that’s being endured right now in the hearts of those who have lost loved ones to this horror.”
Archbishop Smith said he offered his full support, solidarity, and prayers for Filipinos “not only in Vancouver but also here in Edmonton and throughout the world. Everyone is touched by this, everyone is suffering from this.”
Masses will be offered in the Archdiocese of Edmonton for those who were killed and for those grieving their loss, he said. “My prayer for you at this time is that the grace of the risen Lord Jesus, whose love is beyond measure, will somehow touch … your broken grieving hearts, and bring to you a consolation and a peace that only he can give.”
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops president Bishop William McGrattan sent a message offering “my deepest, heartfelt sympathies to the victims, families, and all those impacted by the violence.”
He invited Canadian Catholics to pray for those who died and were injured as well as those who witnessed the violence.
“At this agonizing time, let us also communicate our support and solidarity with the Filipino-Canadian community,” he said.
He concluded, “May the Risen Christ, who triumphed over death, be the hope of those who call out to him.”
The Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Filipino ministry sent condolences to the Filipino community, who were included in memorial Masses Sunday at Gardens of Gethsemani Catholic Cemetery in Surrey, said Filipino ministry coordinator Deacon Raul Abella. He said he planned to meet with B.C. MLA Mable Elmore, who helped organize the festival.
Expressions of sorrow were also sent by the president of Providence Living, a Catholic health care organization in Vancouver with many Filipino staff members.
“There are no words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by the senseless tragedy last night at the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver,” said Mark Blandford, president and CEO, adding many staff likely had family and friends “deeply affected by this event.”
“I want you to know that myself, the board, and all of the Providence family stand with you today,” he said, noting the “great pride in the strong Filipino representation among our staff.”
“Everyone is devastated,” he said, “and we know that the Filipino community is grieving deeply.”
Blandford’s statement included a list of support resources and ended with his prayers “for all who have been affected by this despicable crime.”
Providence Health Care’s CEO Fiona Dalton also sent a message of sorrow and support to PHC staff. Noting Providence has a large number of Filipino staff, she said it was with “shock and grief” that she tried to “comprehend the brutal reality” of the attack.
“My heart goes out” to the people “whose lives have been changed forever by this horrific incident,” she said. “So many people are dealing with varying levels of shock, grief and anger this morning and I cannot imagine the pain they are going through.”
Victims of the attack were sent to numerous hospitals, including St. Paul’s, where the emergency room, medical, and surgical teams responded with “exemplary” care, said Dalton, who thanked the many people “who stepped up to say ‘What can I do to help?’”
Dalton ended with a personal message of solidarity and support for the Filipino community of Vancouver, including Filipino colleagues at Providence. “I want to say that we are here for you. We see you, we support you, and we will walk with you in this dark and difficult time, holding you in our hearts and prayers.”
At St. Mary’s Church in Vancouver, one of the closest parishes to the attack site, Father Gabriel De Chadarevian, OP, addressed the tragedy at a 3 p.m. Tagalog Mass that was attended by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Vancouver Kingsway NDP candidate Don Davies, as well as municipal politicians. Singh had been at the festival Saturday and reportedly left shortly before the attack.
The parish published a message of prayer and support on social media:
Dear brothers and sisters,
St. Mary’s Parish is deeply saddened by the tragic event that took place yesterday in Vancouver during the Lapu Lapu festival where majority of our Filipino brothers and sisters were gathered to celebrate. Our heart goes out to those families who have lost their loved ones or are injured. May the Lord who is merciful and compassionate be with them. We assure our prayers for all affected. May the peace of Risen Christ reign in the hearts of all and may the Divine Mercy wipe away the hatred from the hearts of all.
In remarks at the start of Mass, Father De Chadarevian, visibly shaken, told parishioners, “We are all devastated — excuse me for being emotional — by the tragic events of yesterday that hit our beloved Filipino community. The violence that took the lives of men, women, and children, and injured others, has shaken us deeply.”
Nothing can be done, he said, “to fully express the intense pain we are feeling right now — as Christians, as Catholics, and simply as human beings.”
Reflecting on Sunday, which marked the Feast of Divine Mercy, he added, “We put all our hope in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, and in the Immaculate Heart of Mama Mary. We ask the Risen Lord to console the grieving families and to strengthen our faith and hope in the Resurrection.”
Alternating between English and Tagalog, Father De Chadarevian offered his thanks to the political leaders present for “showing solidarity with our beloved Filipino people.”
In the midst of suffering, “we must turn to Mama Mary, the source of our comfort,” he said.
He read Archbishop Miller’s message as well as one from the Superior Provincial of the Dominicans in Canada, Reverend Father Yves Burieau, OP.
Father Burieau wrote:
“Dear brothers and sisters,
It is with great sadness and shock that I learned of the horrific news of the attack in Vancouver on the Filipino community — a community dear to you, and to me, and some of whose victims you probably know.
I share your pain and grief, as does the entire Filipino community in Vancouver and across Canada.
The entire Provincial Council will soon be with you to accompany you through this painful ordeal.
May the Risen Christ be your support and give you strength to accompany the community of Saint Mary.
In solidarity with you in Jesus Christ,
Father Yves.”
In a phone interview after Mass, Father De Chadarevian said the Mass had been a “very emotional” experience. The parish’s Tagalog Mass draws as many as 1,000 people from as far as Surrey, and it was packed on Sunday.
“Over the years, I’ve become very attached to the Filipino community. I’ve almost been ‘adopted’ by them,” he said. “I didn’t know much about the Philippines back then — but I fell in love with Filipino history, culture …”
On Sunday, the parishioners were “devastated, like myself,” he said.
“Some were crying. Some had family and friends at the festival — friends who were hit by the car,” he said. “It’s an absolute shock.”
During his homily, he emphasized mercy in the face of violence. “I tried to bring out that tension between violence and peace — that we are all called to be ministers of peace, ministers of hope.”
Father De Chadarevian said wherever Filipino Catholics go, “they bring life.”
“They’re almost messianic. They bring joy, they bring Church life,” he said.
Filipinos make up about 80 percent of St. Mary’s parish, he said, while neighbouring St. Patrick’s Parish is about 90 percent Filipino.
He said he wants to offer the community spiritual direction and encouragement “to be people of faith, people of hope, and to be proud of their heritage — especially their Catholic heritage.”
Another nearby Catholic church, Corpus Christi, was also deeply affected by the violence. Father Raffaele Salvino set aside his prepared Divine Mercy Sunday homily to deliver one of compassion and sympathy.
“This comes as a great shock because this is our neighbourhood, this is our beloved city,” he told parishioners.
Father Salvino echoed Archbishop Miller’s tribute to the Filipino community, calling it “a vibrant and faith-filled part of our Archdiocese.” He added, “That’s an understatement. I really mean it — we’re a thriving diocese in large part due to the Filipino presence.”
Reflecting on the tragedy, Father Salvino said waking up to the news was distressing. “I think we either know people directly affected or indirectly affected, including many nurses and doctors who are working right now at the hospital — my own family members working right now.”
While acknowledging the natural human emotions of anger, sadness, and even a desire for retribution, he called parishioners to a higher path. “As Christians, we’re called to something much greater, especially in the midst of trial. We’re not called to mere natural responses — we’re called to supernatural responses.”
Commenting on the Gospel reading about Thomas’ doubt in Jesus’ resurrection, Father Salvino said, “Our Lord has every right to come to Thomas and bring him to task, to bring down the whole divine weight of retribution on this unbelieving Thomas.”
Instead, Jesus’ first words to the apostle are “Peace be with you,” a greeting followed by “a message of forgiveness, of love, and of mercy,” all of which Father Salvino called “direct gifts of God.”
“In God’s timing,” he said, “here we are on Divine Mercy Sunday, the one day in the whole year where the Church honours … the incredible promise of Christ of his mercy to even the most hardened sinner.”
