Rev. Sean Brandow Grieving people gathered at a hockey arena in Canada for an interfaith service to mourn 15 people who died after the bus carrying the town’s junior hockey team collided with a truck.
“I don’t want to be here, but it’s good that we are,” said the Rev. Sean Brandow, the Humboldt Broncos team chaplain and pastor of Humboldt Bible Church.
Rev. Brandow went to the accident site shortly after the collision.
“I walked up on a scene I never want to see again, to sounds I never want to hear again,” he said.
The 15 dead included 10 hockey players between the ages of 16 and 21, the team coach, radio broadcaster, bus driver and other team personnel. The accident occurred early in the evening of April 6 when a bus taking the team to a playoff hockey game collided with a transport truck on a highway near the town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan. Fourteen others on the bus were injured.
Condolences poured into Humboldt from around the world, including messages from Pope Francis, Queen Elizabeth and US President Donald Trump. The Vatican Secretary of State sent blessings on behalf of the Pope.
“Informed of the injury and tragic loss of life caused by the road traffic accident in the province of Saskatchewan involving young hockey players, His Holiness Pope Francis sends his condolences to those who have lost love ones, and commends the souls of the deceased to the mercy of almighty God. To all in the community at this difficult time, Pope Francis sends his blessing.”