Liverpool: Prayer vigil for Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Image: ICN/JS

A short Prayer Service and Silent Vigil will be held for Olivia Pratt-Korbel at St Margaret Mary's RC church, Pilch Lane, Liverpool, L14 0JG tomorrow, Wednesday 31 August at 6pm led by the Right Reverend Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool.

At the end of the prayer service the church will remain open for silent private prayer until 8pm.

Olivia, aged 9, girl was unintentionally shot by a masked gunman at her family home on 22 August 2022, and was later declared dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

Olivia was a pupil at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School.

In a message on their website, the school said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Olivia's family and friends at this very sad time…
As many of you will know, Olivia was a happy pupil with lots of friends at school; she was someone who always went out of her way to help others. She will be sadly missed by everyone at the school.

We will make arrangements for the school to share their condolences with the family over the coming weeks. We will of course do our very best to support your child upon their return to school, particularly those who were friends of Olivia."

Liverpool Football Club manager, Jurgen Klopp, wrote in the latest matchday programme : "Like anyone else who loves Liverpool and its people, I was incredibly shocked by the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Nine years old? How can this happen? How can this happen? How is this even possible?

"I cannot comprehend it and the more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes to understand. That it could happen in a city as special as this one where people look out for one another and stand together makes even less sense.

"I would like to pass on the sympathies of everyone at Liverpool FC to Olivia's family. They are in my thoughts and prayers and I know this will be the same for so many others as well.

"There is only one side to be on in this situation and that is the side of Olivia and her family. We are all with them. You'll Never Walk Alone."

LINKS

St Margaret Mary's school has provided the following links on their website for parents of children affected by this tragedy:

Grief and loss: www.barnardos.org.uk/what-we-do/helping-families/mental-health/grief-and-loss

Parents Guide To Support Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/grief-and-loss/

Winston's Wish Activities for bereaved children and young people: www.winstonswish.org/activities/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInPGww-Lc-QIVArLVCh1-8Qd0EAAYAiAAEgJ-EfD_BwE