Kendrick Castillo died saving others at a school shooting in 2019 at Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and was scheduled to become a Knight of Columbus.
On May 7, 2019, two gunmen entered the Highlands Ranch STEM school and student Kendrick Castillo didn't waste any time protecting his fellow students.
Castillo immediately charged forward and pinned one of the gunmen to the wall before he was fatally shot. This act of heroism inspired additional students to come forward and disarm the gunmen, thus saving everyone else in the school. Castillo was the only fatality as he sacrificed his life to save others.
In August, priests from St. Mark Parish in Colorado Springs submitted a petition to open the cause for canonization of Kendrick Castillo.
Petition under review
Bishop James Golka of the Diocese of Colorado Springs publicly stated to The Denver Post that he is reviewing the petition and will consider whether or not to open an official cause for his beatification and canonization:
Although I have just begun to review the information submitted, it seems clear that Kendrick was an exceptional young man...As we study and discern how to approach the massive undertaking of promoting a canonization cause, I ask all the faithful to keep Kendrick’s family in their prayers.
In preparation for the petition, Fr. Gregory Bierbaum and Fr. Patrick DiLoreto of St. Mark Parish interviewed people who knew Castillo, determining if he led a life of heroic virtue.
Before his death, Castillo had expressed interest in the Knights of Columbus and wanted to become a member. He even had his first degree ceremony marked on his calendar.
In honor of his supreme act of courage and self-sacrifice, the Knights of Columbus gave to Castillo posthumously the “Caritas Medal” at the Knights’ national convention in Minneapolis in 2019. It is the second-highest award anyone can receive in the organization.
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson explained in his remarks how:
This award recognizes those who most profoundly embrace our Order’s principle of Charity in their service and sacrifice for others. He is only the fourth recipient of this award.
Much work will have to be done to determine if Kendrick Castillo can be considered for canonization, but in the meantime, Bishop Golka has stated that individuals can "privately invoke Kendrick’s intercession" as evidence is collected in Castillo's cause for canonization.
