Mourners embrace at Harper Moyski’s memorial at the lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis Sunday, Sept. 14. The 10-year-old girl was killed in the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church Aug. 27 (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Despite the overall joyful nature of the celebration, the heaviness of each heart gathered was undeniable (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Volunteers handed out baked goods and stuffed animals while therapy dogs comforted tearful children (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Harper’s vibrant personality shone brightly through the stories her mom told, allowing the community to share in the Moyski family’s loss (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attended the celebration (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
The interfaith memorial service opened with a prayer from Father Tom Hurley of Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Around 1,000 people wandered past the front of the stage and viewed picture boards of Harper playing in the yard, laughing with her family and spending time with her friends (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
The service ended with the family requesting that all those attending the celebration find three strangers to hug, followed by a two-minute moment of silence (Nathaniel Marquardt/The Crest). 
Annunciation Catholic School will officially reopen Tuesday with activities focused on connection and support (Nathaniel Maquardt/The Crest).
She was a 10-year-old girl who loved “preppy pink” and skincare. She introduced herself as “badass” to her preschool teacher.
Harper Moyski was not just a victim; she was a well-loved daughter, sister, student and friend.
A grieving Minneapolis community gathered Sunday to celebrate her life, which was lost alongside that of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, in the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church on Aug. 27.
Families and students from Annunciation Church and School, alongside politicians and emergency response personnel, congregated at the Lake Harriet Bandshell Sunday in Minneapolis to remember a “beautiful child of great creativity, great joy and great humor.”
Around 1,000 people wandered past the front of the stage and viewed picture boards of Harper playing in the yard, laughing with her family and spending time with her friends. Flowers framed the entirety of the stage and chalk hearts covered the sidewalk.
Volunteers handed out baked goods and stuffed animals while therapy dogs comforted tearful children. Underneath the hum of pop music and laughter, children gripped each other in tight hugs. Parents shared words of encouragement. Despite the overall joyful nature of the celebration, the heaviness of each heart gathered was undeniable.
Green and blue bows tied around trees and benches were scattered around the park and could be seen throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul in the days leading up to Harper’s memorial.
The interfaith memorial service opened with a prayer from Father Tom Hurley of Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, who met the Moyskis years ago after they visited his church. He went on to describe Harper as a girl who was always “all in.”
“She was all in … I ask all of us, I ask leaders, are you in? Are we all in to change our world?” Hurley said, to which the audience responded with a resounding, “Yes.”
Friend of the Moyski family Rabbi Jason Rodich read a poem recognizing Harper’s place among the many children killed by gun violence in the United States.
“I know, I know, we’ve been here before. Sandy Hook and Parkland and Columbine,” Rodich said.
Rodich expressed his grief about previous school shootings and frustration for the division they caused and called for those listening to put aside politics and focus on protecting children.
“Turn just a little to the warm soul beside you. Do it for Harper. Do it for you. Forget for a moment the votes and the villains … Will you do it? Will you remember that in those eyes there’s a life so precious we’d do anything to save it?” Rodich said.
Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attended the celebration. Frey requested the “focus to be on the family … they are truly inspirational.”
Harper was eulogized by her mother, Jackie Flavin, and father, Mike Moyski. Flavin described how their daughter, in her short ten years, taught them three lessons: Be your own kind of light, let your light be big and that light grows when we share it.
Harper’s vibrant personality shone brightly through the stories her mom told, allowing the community to share in the Moyski family’s loss.
Flavin described how Harper created personalized skincare routines for each family member and wrote them down for her younger sister, Quinn.
“It was really about intention,” Flavin said to the crowd. “For Harper, she genuinely wanted all the people that she loved to feel good—and look good too.”
Harper was “extra in the very best way,” continually embracing her creative spirit and “squeezing the most joy out of every moment.”
Flavin expressed her gratitude for the community, which shed light on their darkest moments:
“There’s so much love and support lighting our path that we haven’t felt lost. Shattered and heartbroken, but not lost,” Flavin said.
Flavin described the love she poured into her children, saying, “That kind of love doesn’t disappear or die. It deepens, it strengthens, it becomes a force capable of carrying us, changing us, maybe even changing some laws, too. Harper’s life is short, but her light is everywhere.”
The service ended with the family requesting that all those attending the celebration find three strangers to hug, followed by a two-minute moment of silence.
Annunciation Catholic School will officially reopen Tuesday with activities focused on connection and support.
Grace Woelfel can be reached at woel8456@stthomas.edu.
