U.S. bishops over the weekend prayed that those affected by a series of tornadoes that tore through six midwestern and southern states find “peace, comfort, and hope” in the Catholic faith as they grieve, rebuild and recover.

“During the Advent season where we await in joyful anticipation for the birth of our Lord, we pray for those who have been injured, for those who have lost their lives, and for their grieving families and communities,” said Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City in a Dec. 11 statement.

Gomez, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Coakley, the chair of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called the whole situation “heartbreaking.” As of the end of the day Dec. 12 there were at least 90 reported deaths, with more expected.

The hardest hit state was Kentucky, where Gov. Andy Beshear announced Dec. 12 the death toll had risen to at least 80 and is expected to grow. Tornadoes ripped through 200 miles of the state Friday night leaving communities in their path in ruin.

The western part of the state was hit the hardest. A candle factory just outside of Mayfield, Ky., was completely leveled by the tornado outbreak during a Friday night shift,  which is believed to have killed a number of the 100 workers inside.

Bishop William Medley of Owensboro couldn’t be reached for comment on Sunday. Tina Kasey, the diocesan director of communications told Crux that he celebrated Mass for St. Joseph Church in Mayfield that afternoon.

In a statement on Dec. 11, Medley requested that each parish in the diocese take up a special collection at the weekend Masses, citing that many of those injured in the Mayfield candle factory were parishioners, and others were migrants and marginalized members of the community.