A local congregation was coming together Thursday morning after a deadly double shooting disrupted the peaceful setting inside their church Wednesday afternoon.
The investigation into the suspected murder-suicide was continuing Thursday, and parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Helotes said they were relying on their faith more than ever.
An official with the San Antonio archdiocese said the challenge for people coming to the church Thursday is to try to heal themselves through prayer because of the nature of what happened in their midst.
Helotes police responded to the church around 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon after a shooting was reported. A janitor reportedly heard gunshots, went to investigate, saw the victims and called 911.
Detectives said they saw a Hispanic man and woman lying near the altar with a gun between them.
Investigators said it was a murder-suicide. It's believed the man, 51-year-old Manuel Rodriguez shot his girlfriend, 54-year-old Zeferina Castillo, multiple times before turning the gun on himself.
Police said the two may be residents of San Antonio's west side. Neither were members of the parish.
Church leaders were stunned that such a violent act was committed in what is regarded as a peaceful and sacred place.
"It's hard to just wrap your head around what has really happened here -- the enormity of the tragedy -- and here at a holy place where people come to pray and find peace," said Deacon Pat Rodgers of the San Antonio Archdiocese.
During the church's regular Mass on Thursday morning, worshippers offered prayers for the two victims.
