Christopher Bonilla (Courtesy of Athens ISD)

ATHENS — “Lord hear our prayer” echoed across the Athens High School gym as a coffin draped in white, to symbolize a pure soul, rested in front of a makeshift altar.

More than 1,500 friends, family and members of the community said goodbye to 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla during the service on Friday.

Bonilla died Jan. 25 after a train struck the school bus on which he was riding home. The tragedy shook the community of 12,700 people.

Bonilla’s cousin, Joselyne Torres, 9, also a passenger, was critically injured and is recovering, as is the driver of the bus, John Stevens, 78.

Christopher was laid to rest after a traditional Roman Catholic service ministered by the Rev. Nolan Lowry of St. Edwards Catholic Church in Athens, where the family attends.

Lowry asked mourners to turn off their cellphones and not to take photos, so they could focus on making sense of the tragedy and celebrate Christopher’s life.

“Human life is so precious, even when short. Oftentimes we don’t appreciate who or what we have until we have it no more,” Lowry said. “A life that was so short, and I daresay, too short. We celebrate his life because he was so much to everyone, but especially in the eyes of God.”

Lowry spoke about Christopher’s life and his love of sports, noting it was appropriate that Christopher, a proud Athens Hornet, was being celebrated in the gym of the high school he would have one day attended.

Less than 2 miles away, dozens of flowers, teddy bears and notes of love were left on roadblocks next to the tracks where the wreck occurred.

Christopher was active in his youth group and at school. He played soccer and football, and loved the video game Fortnite, Lowry said.

The priest wore royal purple robes. He explained to those gathered that Catholics use symbolism to help make sense of their beliefs and to celebrate God.

“Royal purple represents sadness and pain, but also hope,” he said. “We turn to God because it gives us eternal life, but also because it helps us to make sense of our grief.”

Lowry said a tragedy like the one the community has experienced is a loss they all are trying to make sense of.

“How do we move forward as believers? Because what happened has changed us as a community,” he said. “How do we make sense of this — this lack of control, this mother’s loss of a child, this sister’s loss of her brother? Well, part of it is, it’s going to take time. Part of it is God’s grace.”

After the service, family friend Mary Rodriguez wept as she spoke about the outpouring of love and support the community has shown.

“Christopher was a smart kid, very bright. I’ve known him since he was a baby,” she said. “He’s going to be missed.”

She said that while healing will come in time, the support from friends, and even strangers, has made coping with their loss a little easier.

During the service, Lowry asked the community to keep praying for Joselyn and Stevens as they recover.

Friends and family hugged and shared stories after the service, while clutching a short program with Christopher’s photo on the front. The program for the service included a verse from Psalm 23: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.”

Ways to help 

Fundraisers have been set up to help the families of Christopher and Joselyne.

A GoFundMe for Christopher’s funeral and other expenses can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/6sa5x54

Anyone wishing to help with Joselyne’s medical expenses can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/joselyne-torres

Sand Springs Baptist Church is collecting notes of prayers and encouragement for bus driver John Stevens. They can be dropped off at the church or mailed to: Sand Springs Baptist Church; John Stevens c/o Bruce; 1212 FM 1616, Athens, Tx. 75751.