MARYSVILLE — Faith leaders in Snohomish County want to lend a hand in helping people cope with what happened Oct. 24 inside Marysville Pilchuck High School.
The public is invited to attend an interfaith candlelight prayer service on Feb. 24 — four months after the deadly shootings at the school.
“We’re hoping to bring some healing and to deepen our sense of community. We want to come together and mark our journey so far and pray for one another and honor one another,” the Rev. Terry Kyllo said.
Kyllo, the pastor at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Marysville, is part of the community team focused on recovery efforts. He is organizing the service with the Rev. Pat Twohy, a Roman Catholic priest who ministered to the Tulalip Tribes for two decades.
A choir from Marysville Getchell High School is expected to perform two songs. Leaders from 16 different faith communities plan to attend and offer prayers.
“It is important to respect our differences. It is also important to recognize our similarities,” Kyllo said.
Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring and Tulalip Tribes Vice Chairman Les Parks are expected to welcome those who gather inside the high school auditorium.
“We’re in this together, both communities,” Parks said. “The sole purpose is to continue the healing. We’re still grieving.”
The grief was caused by a 15-year-old freshman, a Tulalip boy. He opened fire Oct. 24 in one of the school’s bustling cafeterias. He shot five of his friends seated around a lunch table. Killed were Andrew Fryberg, 15, and Zoe Galasso, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and Gia Soriano, all 14. Nate Hatch, 15, is the only victim to survive.
The shooter killed himself after firing at his friends. The boy reportedly sent text messages with suggestions for his funeral to about a dozen relatives minutes before the shooting. He also allegedly sent a picture of himself with a gun between his legs to a friend that morning. The cafeteria shooting remains under investigation by the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team. Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary has said it could up to a year to finish the work.
At the prayer service Marysville School District Superintendent Becky Berg is expected to read the names of other schools around the world where shootings have happened.
Mental health counselors also will be on hand during next week’s service, Kyllo said.
“All of us are processing our grief and feelings of what happened. We’re all in different places,” he said.
It is important to acknowledge those feelings and see that others share them, Kyllo said.
“When we honor how we feel we begin to heal. When we honor our feelings together, we bring healing to each other,” he said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
Service
The public is invited to an interfaith candlelight prayer service planned for 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Marysville Pilchuck High School’s auditorium, 5611 108th St. N.E. A reception will follow. Leaders from more than a dozen faith communities are expected to offer prayers.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
