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Bishop visits Catholic parishes in Virginia Beach after shooting at municipal center

Bishop Barry C. Knestout celebrated Mass at two Catholic churches in Virginia Beach. Members of the parishes died in the shooting at the municipal center.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The head of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond visited two parishes in Virginia Beach on Sunday. He celebrated Mass at each and talked about the deadly shooting that took place at the municipal center on Friday.

Bishop Barry C. Knestout first stopped at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church where one of the victims, Kate Nixon, was a parishioner.

Nixon was a wife and mother of three.

RELATED: 'Her laugh was infectious' | Best friend remembers Kate Nixon

Knestout told members of the congregation that he mourned with them and that they had the sympathy of all the people of Richmond.

Credit: Catholic Diocese of Richmond
The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, celebrates Mass at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, Va. on June 2, 2019.

"This is your home, and I know words fall short in easing the pain of this time, but offer them to you in the hope that in being united with you in thought and prayer, we might also help you carry the burden of this loss," said Knestout.  

After visiting the people of St. Gregory, Knestout said Mass at 11 a.m. at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Sandbridge.

Mary Lou Gayle was a member of that parish.

Knestout's message was the same.

"We hold in prayer the many who are hurting as a result of this tragedy," Knestout said. "We pray for the families who lost a loved one, for the injured recovering in the hospital, for the medical personnel working to comfort and care for the suffering, for our law enforcement community who so valiantly faced the danger at the Municipal Center."

Credit: Catholic Diocese of Richmond
The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, celebrates Mass at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, Va. on June 2, 2019.

In a Facebook post, Saint Gregory the Great invited everyone to a prayer service on June 4 at the church which is located at 5345 Virginia Beach Boulevard in Virginia Beach.

RELATED: Virginia Beach shines light on victims, not mass shooter

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