David Walkowiak, bishop of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, expressed dismay that the U.S. witnessed a school shooting again.

He encouraged the faithful to pray for those affected.

“We find ourselves, once again, in overwhelming shock and grief as a nation over the senseless loss of innocent life,” Walkowiak said in a press release. “This time the pain is deepened by the fact that almost all of the victims were young children, those whom Christ calls us to imitate in order to enter heaven.”

Walkowiak's comments were sparked by Tuesday’s news that 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot and killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers and wounded 17 people at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, according to AP News. 

“Please join me in prayer for the families who are facing unfathomable grief and the entire Uvalde community as they absorb the weight of this terrible loss,” Walkowiak said. “I echo the statement by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, archbishop of San Antonio: ‘The Catholic Church consistently calls for the protection of all life, and these mass shootings are a most pressing life issue on which all in society must act – elected leaders and citizens alike.’”

Uvalde is west of San Antonio. Most of its 16,000 residents are of Hispanic heritage. Ramos barricaded himself inside a classroom and indiscriminately fired on the people inside. Law enforcement officers eventually breached the barricade and killed Ramos, AP News reported.

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent,” Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said in a press release. “Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others, and we join our prayers along with the community in Uvalde and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence and implore our elected officials to help us take action.” 

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) expressed sorrow over the tragedy.

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde,” the governor said in a press release. “Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering.” 

Abbott thanked the first responders who secured the school after the rampage and pledged that the state would help the community move forward.

“I have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime,” he said. “The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the state of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal.”