Grace Amid Tragedy

July 1, 2022

God’s presence gave hope to the grand knight in Uvalde, Texas, in the face of death

By Joe Bukuras

July 1, 2022

Pallbearers, including U.S. Marine Christian Garcia, carry the caskets of Irma and Joe Garcia, Christian's parents, after their funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, on June 1. Irma, a teacher, was killed in the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School, and Joe, a member of Uvalde Area Council 3245, died two days later of a heart attack. (Photo by Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

Andres "June" Ybarra couldn’t sleep for days and remained in shock for weeks. Once you know where he lives — and the two key roles he plays in his community — no further explanation is necessary.

One role is grand knight of Council 3245 based at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas — a parish at the forefront of efforts to help the traumatized community of 16,000 people cope with the shooting deaths of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on May 24. Eleven of the victims were parishioners of Sacred Heart.

His other role: working as a mortician at a local funeral home that prepared the bodies and organized funeral arrangements for 16 of the 21 victims.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever seen,” Ybarra said. “I never ever thought something like this would happen in Uvalde.”

One of the funerals Ybarra helped arrange was for his second cousin Joe Garcia, 50, who was also a member of Council 3245. Joe’s wife, Irma Garcia, was one of the two fourth grade teachers killed. Joe died of a heart attack two days later, after placing flowers at his wife’s memorial. The Garcias left behind four children, ages 12 to 23.

The couple shared a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart on June 1, celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio and concelebrated by Father Eduardo Morales, pastor of Sacred Heart and Council 3245’s chaplain.

“Irma and Joe’s faith bore fruits of love. They witnessed to the love that comes from God,” Archbishop García-Siller said in his homily. “The love between them shone through and was expressed by their dedication to each other, which extended to their children and to their community.”

The next day, more than 40 Knights from councils and assemblies across South Texas grilled and served hamburgers for hundreds of participants at a candlelight vigil in downtown Uvalde. Later in June, Knights from San Felipe Council 2687 in neighboring Del Rio and Council 3245 organized a rosary walk in memory of the victims.

Ybarra said he was devastated when he heard the news of his cousin’s death, but that God’s grace gave him the strength to continue his job and “be strong for the families.”

Preparing the bodies and funerals of young children is particularly difficult, “especially when you have children at home or grandkids at home the same age,” he said. He managed to maintain his composure while busy at work, he said, but his emotions came out at home around his wife, Isabel, and their three children and nine grandchildren.

“If you don’t have a relationship with God, there’s no way you can handle something like this,” affirmed Ybarra, who prays throughout the day in his work and is devoted to the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the rosary.

Ybarra is one of four morticians at Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary, located less than a mile from Robb Elementary. He actually retired from the business several years ago, but felt the urge to come back to work last year. Now he knows why.

“God,” he said, “brought me back for this."

*****

JOE BUKURAS is a staff writer at the Catholic News Agency and a member of George C. Shields Council 420 in Mansfield, Mass. This article is adapted and reprinted with permission from CNA.

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