The Archdiocese of Milwaukee encourages the faithful to pray for those affected by Tuesday’s mass shooting at a Texas elementary school.

“Our hearts break for all those affected by the senseless shooting in Uvalde that killed so many innocent lives today,” the archdiocese posted on Facebook. “Let’s lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ and pray for an end to all violence. Mother Mary, wrap them in the mantle of your love and hold them close in your loving arms.” 

On Tuesday, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos shot and killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers and wounded 17 other people at Robb Elementary School, the Associated Press reported. 

The school is located in Uvalde, Texas, a majority-Hispanic town with a population of 16,000. Ramos barricaded himself inside of a fourth-grade classroom and opened fire on the people inside, until law enforcement officers were able to break into the classroom and kill him, the AP said.

“There have been too many school shootings, too much killing of the innocent," a spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a release. "Our Catholic faith calls us to pray for those who have died and to bind the wounds of others, and we join our prayers along with the community in Uvalde and Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. As we do so, each of us also needs to search our souls for ways that we can do more to understand this epidemic of evil and violence and implore our elected officials to help us take action.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he was pained by the shooting.

“Texans across the state are grieving for the victims of this senseless crime and for the community of Uvalde," Abbott said in a release. "Cecilia and I mourn this horrific loss and we urge all Texans to come together to show our unwavering support to all who are suffering.” 

He thanked the first responders who worked to secure the school after the rampage started.

“I have instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers to work with local law enforcement to fully investigate this crime,” Abbott said. “The Texas Division of Emergency Management is charged with providing local officials all resources necessary to respond to this tragedy as the state of Texas works to ensure the community has what it needs to heal.”