Praying for Prague

Trigger warning: Gun violence and vicarious trauma

Yesterday morning, as I prepared for the day, texts came into my phone as early reports of a shooting in Prague made their way across the Atlantic. I was shocked and saddened to learn of a mass shooting- one that would turn out to be the worst the Czech Republic has seen in peacetime- in the city center.

I feel it is appropriate to write about this here and attempt to process it myself. I’ve written many articles detailing our visits- dropping my baby off at university, family dinners, and tourist activities. But even more so, Prague is where Emily and Mees currently live and work. And Charles University is where they went to school, with Mees just having celebrated his graduation ceremony two weeks ago.

At time of writing, we are still trying to make sense of this. A school shooting is something that we don’t associate with Europe, and especially not the Czech Republic. Though far away, I wanted Emily to go to school in Prague, not just for the adventure of a lifetime, but because it would be safer than going to school here in the States. And while statistically speaking, schools in Europe and even in the United States are among the safest places when it comes to gun violence and the chances of a mass attack are extremely low, yesterday, it became one hundred percent reality for the students at Charles and for the visitors to Jan Palach Square. And if Emily and Mees had not decided to fly ahead on Thursday morning to Barcelona for our family trip, she would have been at the square that day, as she typically is Thursday afternoons at 2. And my wracked brain can’t go there and think through the what-ifs.

The most current information I have on Friday, December 22, just over 26 hours after the first reports of the senseless tragedy, is as follows: 15 perished, including the perpetrator, 25 wounded, the investigation continues, and a city is shaken. Fourteen families will not be able to see their loved ones again, to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Countless others are impacted by the horror of the day. Though the people of Prague are resilient, it will take a long time to heal.

My heart is heavy, and I carry a mix of gratitude and grief. I am thankful that Emily and Mees are physically safe, and I hope to be able to hug my bird when we arrive in Europe. But I worry about how they will carry the weight of their own thoughts and vicarious trauma. They are early in their processing as more information is released to the public. My heart hurts for the families who are impacted and for their losses, and for the shattering of the sense of safety, and our collective grief. Just last year, at this time, I walked along the Mánesův most just going to explore and get food. We spent time at the Christmas markets, especially the famous Old Town Square market, just 500 meters away from Jan Palach and the Philosophy Faculty of Charles University. I could not have imagined then that a year later, we would be grieving the loss of fourteen souls because of a horrific act of a troubled young man. May God be with the city of Prague.

Some things to consider:

If you are visiting Prague, please be aware of closures around Jan Palach Square as the investigation continues. Be sure to check your routes before you travel.

I am choosing not to give details here on the gunman, including details that are coming from European news outlets that I have not seen here in the States. This is intentional, as I do not feel that he deserves the attention after devastating the lives of those he murdered, as well as the many more his actions will impact. I will say that he had been a student at Charles, and as far as we know, Emily and Mees never ran into him.

Vicarious trauma is real. As we empathize deeply with the people of Prague, strong emotions can arise. I am feeling the weight of what happened at Charles, especially as my child is connected to the university. I am thankful that she is safe and alive; I am also worried how she will struggle when she returns home to Prague following our family trip.

It may sound platitudinous, especially as an American writer where here mass shootings are more in the news, but we can pray for the people and city of Prague and the greater Czech Republic. There is not much more we can do, and I believe prayer is a powerful thing, especially as we unite in our collective sadness. So as you feel lead, please pray for Prague.

As a parent, I cannot truly imagine the depths of devastation this has wrought on those families impacted. I have come to love the Czech capital- its history, its people, everything but the veggie burritos- and for my baby and her bunny, it is home. It had been a place of joy and adventure. Sadly, it also struck me that I am bookending the year with two acts of unspeakable violence, all too close to home. I pray for peace. I pray for hope. And even in the midst of the darkness, I pray for light and a blessed holiday season.