Dear Friends,
It is hard to put into words the sorrow, pain, and grief that our Catholic community is experiencing right now. Perhaps you, too, spent the day watching news of the senseless violence at Annunciation Catholic Church and School unfold.
Our hearts and prayers are with the students, families, teachers, school and parish staff, and other worshipers whose lives were forever changed — during the sacred celebration of the Eucharist — by these tragic events. May God heal the schoolchildren who are lost and frightened, who witnessed unfathomable horrors. May God ease their pain.
We hold in our hearts, too, the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School community, which was impacted by a mass shooting just yesterday. And we pray for all the students, teachers, and staff returning to school in the coming weeks during this excruciatingly difficult time.
We pray with gratitude for the first responders, medical staff, and clergy who provide compassionate care to those affected by this recent violence. May they also know God’s presence today.
Finally, I extend to you Archbishop Hebda’s invitation to a prayer service this evening. It will be held at 7:00 PM at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield. May we find comfort and hope in community and prayer.
With the love of Christ,
Anne Cullen Miller, MBA
President