Mass Held for Victims of Berkeley Balcony Tragedy

Hundreds attended a Mass for victims of a deadly Berkeley balcony collapse, with the Catholic priest calling on people to offer support for the families of the six young people killed and the seven injured
Mass Held for Victims of Berkeley Balcony Tragedy
Mourners stand by during a candlelight vigil for six Irish students Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in Berkeley, Calif. AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach
The Associated Press
Updated:

BERKELEY, Calif.—Hundreds attended a Mass for victims of a deadly Berkeley balcony collapse, with the Catholic priest calling on people to offer support for the families of the six young people killed and the seven injured.

Father Aidan McAleenan said Wednesday evening at Oakland’s Cathedral that family members right now are focused on their loved ones rather than on the cause of the tragedy.

“We may well wonder and want to lash out and talk about the balcony and who built it,” said Father Aidan McAleenan, who rushed to hospitals after hearing of the disaster. “But at the end of the day what (families) want the most is to see their loved ones. They want to touch them, they want to hold them and they want to kiss them.”