Students get help on parish grounds after violent attack
The B.C. Catholic
Abbotsford
The church across the street from Abbotsford Senior Secondary stepped in to help the community heal after a fatal stabbing at the school.
St. Ann’s Parish offered its gymnasium as a safe space for teachers, students, and parents to meet counsellors and cope with grief after a tragic attack at the school Nov. 1. The school was closed while police investigated.
“They need to be listened to,” said pastor Father Hien Nguyen as members of the high school entered the parish gym Nov. 2. “Today they don’t have a space to quietly gather, so we are more than happy to help them out.”
He got a call from the school the day of the attack, asking if counsellors could set up in the gym at 9 a.m. the next day to offer counselling. He agreed.
“This is a very tight-knit community,” he said. “It only makes sense when the school is closed to open (the gym) up for support for victims, students, and parents who need a bit of debriefing and counselling.”
While the school brought in its own counsellors, Father Nguyen also made himself available if anyone wanted to speak to a Catholic priest. Several Abbotsford Senior Secondary parents and children are members of St. Ann’s Parish.
“We have a wonderful relationship with the school.”
The Abbotsford Police Department said a call had been received at 2:05 p.m. about an attack at the school Nov. 1. Two female students were stabbed and taken to hospital, where one died.
“We wish to extend our condolences to the family of the young woman,” said the police in a news release.
At press time, the second victim was in hospital in stable condition, and a 21-year-old suspect, Gabriel Klein, had been charged with second degree murder and aggravated assault.
