Parishioners of the St. Paul Catholic church where a priest was shot and killed Friday night, recalled the spirit of the former Father during Sunday’s service.

“He's a really good priest. He's a good shepherd I can say especially with the children,” Gemma Wiebe told CTV News.

“Father Gilbert was an amazing man and spokesperson for his faith,” Laurette Cobiere said.

Cobiere described Sunday’s service as emotional.

“Because we have a faith I think we can get through this.”

The other priest of the church, Father Gerard Gauthier, said he decided not to lead mass but instead invited a guest to do so.

“It was just too difficult to so we had Bob Parker the chaplain for the RCMP speak. He said the stuff that I couldn't say.”

RCMP have called the death a homicide.

Although police have not yet released the victim’s name, the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul has confirmed that Father Gilbert Dasna was shot in the chest at the church rectory.

Gauthier had been out of town when the incident happened but said he could have been the one shot.

“If I had been home it could've been me. Usually I'd answer the door, but if it wasn't me he would have answered the door and I would have heard the shots from upstairs.”

The incident occurred around the same time that 55-year-old John Quadros, a local health food store owner, was killed in a gun fight with Mounties just blocks away from the church.

Something those who knew Quadros said was out of character.

“He couldn’t have been himself,” Edgar Bussiere told CTV News.

“It was just unbelievable. I couldn’t believe...for John like that to even think of doing something like that…it just wasn’t him.”

Three RCMP officers were injured during the shoot out with Quadros. 

Police continue to investigate both incidences and have yet to determine if they were linked.

In the meantime, Gauthier said the congregation was supporting one another.

“It's that mutual support and I know that I'm not alone. I'm staying with parishioners so I'm not alone and people coming to the house just that whole support. It would be hard doing it alone.”

Funeral plans for Dasna will be announced in the coming days.

With files from Amanda Anderson

UPDATE (23/05/14): The ASIRT investigation determined the gunman, identified as John Quadros, took his own life during the incident.