West, Texas (CNS) — The small town of West has been flooded with donations, disaster response teams, volunteers, news media and, perhaps most importantly, prayers since an explosion at a fertilizer plant the evening of April 17. The explosion killed 14 people and destroyed many of the homes within five blocks of the fertilizer plant. Though not all of the names of those who died have been released, the Waco Herald-Tribune newspaper’s accounting lists most of them as emergency responders, including volunteer fire department members. Father Ed Karasek said the phone has not stopped ringing at Church of the Assumption Parish in West, where he has been pastor for nearly 25 years. The parish, which also has a Catholic school, St. Mary’s, is about a mile from the fertilizer plant and did not suffer much damage from the explosion. Father Karasek said he had talked to people from all over the world in the days since the tragedy. “I have answered so many questions, but everyone is praying for us,” he said. On April 19, Austin Bishop Joe Vasquez visited Assumption Church for an interfaith service of remembrance for those who died. During the service, local clergy offered their reflections and their support for the victims of the tragedy. West sits on the northern edge of the Austin diocese.