Community Rallies Around Alumnus Matt Deboer After Annunciation Catholic School Tragedy

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

Annunciation Catholic School’s principal, a St. Edward graduate, received love and support from afar on Friday night.

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From Elgin to Minneapolis, a moment of silence and unity was observed as St. Edward stood by one of its own. Matt Deboer, an alumnus, is facing this week’s tragedy at Annunciation Catholic, where two children were killed and 18 others injured.

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

Before Friday night’s home football game, St. Edward observed a moment of silence and distributed shirts to the first 200 attendees, commemorating their former graduate and his school’s resilience.

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

“Most are expressing the same sentiments: we are with you, we support you, we pray for you. And Matt, you are the strongest leader we know. Many of his peers noted in their letters how they even looked up to him during his teenage years,” Woj-Dufelmeier stated.

This tragedy has deeply affected families and staff in Elgin, as they now pray for the wellbeing of the Minneapolis community.

“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.