“People were scared,” Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller said during a candlelight vigil in San Antonio. “They were feeling like they were in darkness.”
As the floodwaters in Central Texas slowly recede, the heartbreak grows heavier. The death toll from the catastrophic July 4 flash floods has reached at least 109, with many still missing—including five young girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Kerr County has borne the brunt of the tragedy, with at least 87 confirmed deaths. The rapid rise of the Guadalupe River—26 feet in just 45 minutes—swept away entire cabins and families in the early hours of Independence Day. According to The New York Times, “no survivors have been found since Friday” in Kerr County, and officials have confirmed that the last “live rescue” took place that day, said Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department.
Now, the mission has shifted from search and rescue to recovery. “This will be a rough week,” Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. said solemnly. “We need your prayers.”
Among the dead are 27 girls and staff members from Camp Mystic. Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio visited the grieving families at a reunification center and later offered words of consolation at a vigil in Travis Park: “They were feeling like they were in darkness.” His presence was a visible reminder that the Catholic Church stands in prayerful solidarity with all who mourn.
The spiritual wound cuts deep—many of the victims were children. Officials have said this disaster ranks among the deadliest for children in U.S. history in recent decades.
Catholics across Texas and beyond are tying green ribbons in memory of the Camp Mystic victims—green being the camp’s color, according to The New York Times. The sight recalls a familiar tradition of hope and remembrance, reminiscent of the yellow ribbons tied during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
As the nation processes this immense tragedy, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a powerful moment from her visit: “I had walked through the cabin where all the little girls died… There was a gentleman, he said ‘that man over there needs a hug.’ I walked over… and he said, ‘No, my little girl was in that cabin. I just found her best friend about a half an hour ago.’ And he just fell apart.”
In another heartbreaking account, a counselor at the camp told Noem that she had tried to hold onto two girls in the floodwaters, but the currents ripped them from her grasp. “She said, ‘I will live with that for the rest of my life.’”
President Donald Trump has announced he and First Lady Melania Trump will visit the disaster zone on Friday, but he emphasized, “We don’t want to get in anyone’s way… I don’t want anyone to focus on us… What a tragic situation.” He added that the response between state and federal agencies had been “so unified,” crediting rescue teams with saving lives amid harrowing conditions.
Still, questions linger. Senator Chuck Schumer has demanded an investigation into whether staffing shortages at the National Weather Service contributed to the catastrophe, while others have criticized Texas officials for failing to warn camps in high-risk flood zones—like Camp Mystic—earlier.
Catholics are urged to pray for the souls of the departed, for the families enduring unimaginable grief, and for the protection of all still missing. Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi said in a statement, “Now is the time for our Church to be a field hospital—healing, serving, and praying without ceasing.”
Let us respond with compassion. Catholic organizations including Catholic Charities USA are coordinating efforts to assist displaced families and provide spiritual and material support.
Let us pray:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
To light a free virtual prayer candle in memory of those lost, visit Catholic Online Virtual Prayer Candles.
Sources:
- The New York Times, reporting by Rick Rojas, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Jesus Jiménez, and Campbell Robertson, July 8, 2025.
- The Independent, reporting by Mike Bedigan, July 8, 2025.
- Official press briefings from Kerrville Police and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
