Spiritual leaders answer the call

MOSES LAKE, Feb. 5, 1996 — All weekend ministers offered solace and support. They tried to make sense of things – tried to mend the shredded fabric of the community. 

Their help was needed immediately. Ministers got calls simultaneously to be available at the school and Samaritan Hospital. 

Father John Morse was on the scene at Frontier Junior High shortly after the shooting. Shortly after he arrived, he saw Steve Caires, whose wife, Leona had been shot. The Caireses were parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, where Morse is pastor. 

Caires asked Morse if he had done the Anointing of the Sick prayers over his wife. Morse responded that he couldn’t, that the police couldn’t let him in.  

“That’s when he knew she was dead,” Morse said.  

That was the first job taken on by spiritual leaders. There would be more demand for spiritual services.  

Throughout the weekend, people visited churches, attended services and looked within and above.  

“It was evident people are looking for answers,” Morse said after Mass Sunday morning.  

“They’re wondering how can I reconcile this with my own faith, beliefs and personal values. The questions were all there.”  

Ministers all over town tried to help people find some answers.  

On Saturday, the Moses Lake Ministerial Association met at the Immanuel Lutheran Church to sketch out a plan and to pray.  

They agreed to hold a community forum in the Immanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, which included the public, school and police officials. It was in the church Sunday that police and school officials finally felt comfortable talking openly about what happened.  

Moses Lake Police Sergeant Dennis Duke described the sequence of events, complimenting the officers, school officials and others who did their best at the scene.  

“It was a random act of violence,” Duke said. “Many people in the community are angry right now. We have to deal with that anger.”  

Duke continued.  

“Everybody wants to know why. We don’t have the answer. We may never have the answer. But maybe this happened for a reason. The reason is to bring the community together.”  

Mental health professionals were also saying that it’s important for people to be with others of their faith to deal with the tragedy.  

Police Chief Fred Haynes spoke briefly at the church forum. 

“We need to work together as a community,” he said. “We need to talk.”  

During the forum, Moses Lake Superintendent David Rawls referred to the words his minister spoke at his church service Sunday morning.  

“It would be easy to insulate ourselves,” he said. “But then we’ll be afraid. Fear will come in and we’ll fall, one by one, to fear. All of the metal detectors in the world won’t help. Only acting together as a community can help us.”  

Rawls also complimented the staff and teachers for their compassion directly following the shooting. He said their actions were telling the children, “We care a lot about you, and you are safe in our hands.”  

“They were the victims,” he said. “The whole community is a victim. In one way or another, we’ve all been affected.”  

He said the healing will continue, and special care will be given to the students. 

“They need love and support of their peers. They need structure and stability.”  

Rawls was also introspective. 

“Why this should befall us,” he said. “Is a question to stay with us a long, long time.”  

Later, in answering a question about Natalie Hintz’s recovery, Duke said,” I just praise the Lord for the doctor’s knowledge.”  

Immanuel Lutheran pastor Kevan Smith extended his thoughts to the suspect, Barry Loukaitas and his family.  

“We’ll want to pray for Barry’s family as well,” he said.  

The ministerial association plans to hold a community service next Sunday. The exact time and location weren’t certain. They all know there’s more healing to be done.