Healing After Tragedy: The Annunciation Catholic School Response

Nearly a year ago, a gunman opened fire during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in the Twin Cities. The attack killed two children—8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski—and injured dozens of others. The community was thrust into intense media scrutiny, grief counseling, and a prolonged recovery process.

New York Times

In the weeks that followed, the Washburn Center for Children, a Minnesota mental-health organization founded in 1883, embedded a team of clinicians within the school. The clinicians, referred to by students as “butterflies” or “Helpers,” carried walkie-talkies tuned to Channel 2, allowing them to be summoned instantly when a child needed a break or emotional support. The organization’s butterfly logo became a visible symbol of safety and reassurance throughout the campus.

New York Times

This on-call model helped normalize the process of seeking help and reduced the isolation many students felt after the shooting. Parents and teachers reported that the immediate availability of mental-health professionals eased the transition back to regular classroom routines.

New York Times

As the new school term begins next week, the Washburn Center’s therapists will return to maintain the support network established over the past months. Their ongoing involvement aims to sustain the sense of security fostered by the butterfly program and to assist the Annunciation community in moving forward from the trauma of the shooting.

New York Times