St. Edward Central Catholic High School Community Supports Alumnus Matt Deboer After Annunciation Catholic School Shooting

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) — The mass shooting in Minneapolis hit close to home for people at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin.

With the principal of Annunciation Catholic School being a graduate of St. Edward, everyone made sure to send their love and support from home on Friday night.

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There was a moment of silence and solidarity from Elgin to Minneapolis as St. Edward rallies around one of its own. Alumnus Matt Deboer is now leading the Annunciation Catholic community through this week’s tragedy where two children were killed, and 18 others were wounded.

“We’re just doing what we can from here to offer encouragement as a school community. Once you’re a part of the green wave, you always are,” said St. Edward Principal AnneMarie Woj-Dufelmeier.

Before Friday night’s home football game, St. Edward held a moment of silence and handed out shirts to the first 200 fans in attendance, honoring the resilience of their former graduate and his school.

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The school has also gathered more than 150 letters in the last two days that will be sent to Minneapolis.

“Most of them are all saying the same thing, that we are with you, we support you, we are praying for you. And Matt, you are the strongest leader we know. Many of his peers spoke in their letters about how they even looked up to him as a teenager,” Woj-Dufelmeier said.

It is a tragedy that has left an impact on many of the families and staff members in Elgin, as they are now praying for the recovery of that community in Minneapolis.

“Prayer is important, but prayer needs to lead to action. We want to follow Matt’s example that we have to move our feet. This should not happen again,” Woj-Dufelmeier said.

Woj-Dufelmeier told ABC7 they will mail those letters and shirts to Minneapolis, making sure that community knows they have love and support from Elgin.