St. Ignatius Church, April 17, 2007. Photograph: Christopher Huang

More than 900 students and members of the Boston College community gathered at St. Ignatius Church on Tuesday evening April 17 for a prayer vigil following the fatal shooting of 32 Virginia Tech students and faculty on April 16 in Blacksburg. The seven o’clock memorial service took place simultaneously with vigils at the other Atlantic Coast Conference universities.

Students organized the service, which was sponsored by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College and Campus Ministry. The program included prayers led by campus minister Donald MacMillan, SJ, and a candle-lighting ceremony during which students read the names of the 22 victims known to the public at that time. Music was provided by the Liturgy Arts Group and liturgical musician JoJo David. Three students also spoke.

“This tragedy really touched a chord in our students, and you could see they felt a real connection to the students at Virginia Tech,” says James Erps, SJ, director of Campus Ministry. The University also sponsored a noontime ecumenical prayer service that day in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons and offered a Mass in memory of the victims at five o’clock in St. Mary’s Chapel.

In a letter e-mailed to students, faculty, and staff, University President William P. Leahy, SJ, wrote, “I ask you to join me in offering our prayers for the victims, their families, and the entire Virginia Tech community. . . . You too remain in my prayers.”