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August 27, 2025President Donald Trump ordered flags flown at half-staffPresident Donald Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff "as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence" at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minn. on August 27.
Trump's order applies at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, military posts, naval stations and naval vessels throughout the United States, its territories, and embassies and military bases abroad until sunset, August 31, 2025.
Cardinal Burke: 'In such moments, our hearts cry out with Our Lady'From Cardinal Raymond Burke:
"In such moments, our hearts cry out with Our Lady, standing at the foot of the Cross of her Divine Son. With her, we place our sorrowing hearts into the glorious-pierced Heart of Jesus, asking that the immeasurable and unceasing grace flowing from His Heart bring healing to all involved and strengthen us all to renew our every effort to end such violent attacks against human life. We entrust the souls of the departed to the mercy of Christ, Who said, “Let the children come to Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 19, 14) and Who prayed for those who tortured and executed Him: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23, 34).
FBI Minneapolis:FBI director:U.S. bishops' conference: 'we feel the pain as if it were our very own children'In response to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minn., Archbishop William E. Lori, vice-president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement.
“As a Church, we are following the tragic news from Annunciation School in Minneapolis with heartbreaking sadness. Whenever one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, we feel the pain as if it were our very own children. Let us all beg the Lord for the protection and healing of the entire Annunciation family.”Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman 'devastated' by attack amid 'holy moment of grace'Bishop Mark Eckman of Pittsburgh said in a statement he was "devastated" by the mass shooting at Annunciation, saying the violence had "shattered what should have been a holy moment of grace."
"We hold close in prayer the students, families, teachers, parish community, and first responders," he said. "We ask the Lord to bring healing to the injured, eternal rest to those who have died, and consolation to all who mourn."
He added that the tragedy "touches our local Church in a particular way," since Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis "is a native son of the Diocese of Pittsburgh."
"We hold him, the victims, and their grieving families in our hearts," said Bishop Eckman.
He added that his diocesan director of safety and security "continues to actively monitor developments and to remain in close contact with law enforcement.
"Our schools remain vigilant, and followed established safety protocols today, as they do every day," said Bishop Eckman. "We are grateful for the professionalism of our administrators, teachers, and staff who work each day to keep our children safe."
Bishop Eckman said that "as people of faith, we turn instinctively to prayer in moments like this" -- yet "prayer must move us to action, to comfort the grieving, to bring healing to the wounded, and to be voices for peace and the sanctity of every life.
"May Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation, intercede for comfort and strength. And may the Lord, the Prince of Peace, bind up every broken heart and guide us to a world where children can learn, play, and pray in safety," said Bishop Eckman.
Neighboring parish priest prays on scene with familiesFather Erich Rutten, pastor of nearby St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, arrived on scene this morning to pray with and comfort distraught and grieving parents at the school.
The priest told NBC News that parents were in "great, great anxiety and grief," with some "wailing and crying, some stooping to the ground."
He told the news outlet that he hugged those he recognized, with several joining in as he prayed the rosary.
National Catholic Education Association joins in prayerThe National Catholic Educational Association said on its Facebook page, "We join in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis."
The Virginia-based organization -- which describes itself as the largest, private professional education association in the world -- counts a membership of some 140,000 educators serving 1.6 million students in Catholic education.
The NCEA shared a post from The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, featuring a social media graphic that read, "Pray for all at Annunciation in Minneapolis."
'I grieve with every person who now carries the trauma of this senseless violence'A statement from Bishop Patrick Neary of the neighboring Diocese of St. Cloud regarding Minneapolis church shooting:
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, our hearts are shattered by the horrific act of violence that occurred at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Children were gathered for Mass. Teachers were beginning a new school year. Families were entrusting their loved ones to the care of the Church.
I grieve deeply with the families, students, staff and parishioners of Annunciation. I grieve with our neighbors in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. And I grieve with every person who now carries the trauma of this senseless violence.
As Catholics, we believe in the dignity of every human life. That dignity is destroyed when violence becomes routine.
May Christ, the Prince of Peace, bring healing to all who are wounded, and may Our Lady of Sorrows intercede for us in this time of grief.
† Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C.
Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud
Local Catholic media reportingThe Catholic Spirit, the diocesan paper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has this story.
Former interim pastor said he is 'devastated'Annunciation parish's former interim pastor, Father Robert Hart, told NBC News he was "devastated" by today's shooting, and that the violence was "unbelievable."
"It's hard to believe this could happen at a Catholic Mass," the 77-year-old priest told the outlet Aug. 27.
Father Hart, who had only left the parish in June after a year as interim pastor, said he was "devastated that this could happen at a place I just left two months ago."
He told NBC News that Annunciation is a "very close-knit and very supportive" community. While he did not know the names of the victims, he expected that he would recognize many of their names if released, he told NBC News.
Minnesota legislators reactRep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, whorepresents the congressional district where the school is located, said in a post on X, "I am beyond heartbroken over the tragic news of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis."
"I am praying for all the families impacted by this horrific tragedy," she said. "I will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates."
In a similar statement, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said, "I am heartbroken by the horrific violence at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis this morning. My prayers are with the students, teachers, and families, and I am grateful for the first responders who are on the scene."
Hospital confirms victim patientsHennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis confirmed it is "caring for multiple victims from the shooting incident that occurred this morning."
Associated Press, citing Dr. Tom Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine, reported that at least 9 children between the ages of 6 and 14 and two adults had been received at the hospital, with no deaths reported so far. AP noted that four of the patients were taken to operating rooms.
Children's Minnesota Hospital said on its website that it was "aware of this morning’s shooting in Minneapolis," adding, " If you are able, please avoid our Minneapolis emergency room unless your child is in need of immediate emergency care. Our St. Paul emergency department is also open and available."
Minneapolis mayor: 'These kids were literally praying'At a press conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said action must be taken to prevent gun violence. "Don't just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying! It was the first week of school, they were in a church."
"They should be able to go to school or church in peace without the fear or risk of violence and their parents should have the same assurance."
"There are no words that can capture the horror and the evil of this unspeakable act," Frey said.
The Democratic National Committee adjourned its nearby Summer Meeting in Minneapolis in light of the shooting.
Shooter fired through church windowsMinneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at today's press conference that two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed as they sat in the pews at Mass, where dozens of children were present.
He confirmed the shooter, a man in his early 20s, was armed with three guns -- a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, as well as a smoke bomb -- and fired directly through the church windows before taking his own life behind the church.
O'Hara said officials believe the shooter acted alone, and they are working to determine a motive for the attack.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — A deadly mass shooting took place the morning of Aug. 27 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis shortly after the start of the school day during an all-school Mass at the adjacent Annunciation Catholic Church.On the sceneOne of our media partners has a reporter and photographer on the scene. More story updates to come.
Please raise the Minneapolis community up in prayer.
The gunman shot from the outside of the church through windows at the Mass attendees with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, killing two children, ages 8 and 10. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, 17 others are injured, including 14 children.
The suspected gunman is also dead and believed to have taken his own life in the parking lot. Local police say there is no longer an active threat.
The nearby Richfield Police Department stated earlier that “a man dressed in all black and armed with a rifle was reported at the scene.”
The shooter is yet to be publicly identified. O’Hara described the suspect as in his 20s and dressed in black. He said an apparent smoke bomb had also been found.
O’Hara confirmed that at least two of the church’s exterior doors had been barricaded with two-by-four wooden boards.
Aug. 27 was the third day of the school year for the Catholic elementary school, which serves students in preschool to grade eight. Students were attending an all-school Mass that began at 8:15 a.m. local time. Authorities were alerted at 8:27 a.m.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined O’Hara in speaking to media on the scene. Dr. Thomas Wyatt, chair of emergency medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center in downtown Minneapolis, also provided reporters an update on victims’ status. He said 11 patients were taken to HCMC, among them two adults and nine children ages 6-14.
“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying,” Frey said.
Father Erich Rutten, pastor of nearby St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, arrived on scene this morning to pray with and comfort distraught and grieving parents at the school.
The priest told NBC News that parents were in “great, great anxiety and grief,” with some “wailing and crying, some stooping to the ground.”
He told the news outlet that he hugged those he recognized; several of them joined in as he prayed the rosary.
OSV News reached out to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and is awaiting comment. Staff from The Catholic Spirit, the archdiocese’s newspaper, were on the scene.
On its website, the archdiocese posted, “Please pray for all those affected by the shooting today at Annunciation in Minneapolis. Updates to come from The Catholic Spirit.”
Bishop Kevin T. Kenney, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis who grew up attending Annunciation Parish, told a local news station that “it’s just unbelievable that this could happen, still today.”
It’s “very sad for the community, for the families, and very sad for the families who have lost loved ones,” said Bishop Kenney, speaking at HCMC.
“It’s a horrible, horrific way for all the students to begin the school year. Safety procedures were put in place, people come excited to go back to school, very excited about an academic year, feeling safe in south Minneapolis, and now look what happened,” he said.
“When I heard about the shooting this morning, I’m right down the street … I decided I better come over and just support the families and be here with them,” he said. “I have talked to a few (families) whose children are in surgery or being cared for. Just panicking, of course they’re in shock and worried, asking ‘why,’ so I’m just here to comfort … and to just walk with them in these hours ahead.”
Annunciation’s former interim pastor Father Robert Hart, 77, told NBC News that the school shooting was “unbelievable.”
“It’s hard to believe that this could happen at a Catholic Mass,” he said. The priest described Annunciation as a “very close-knit and very supportive” community.
President Donald Trump said on the X social media platform that he has “been fully briefed” on the shooting.
“The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene,” he said. “The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”
Also on X, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said that he has been “briefed on a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and will continue to provide updates as we get more information. The BCA and State Patrol are on scene. I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence.”
Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said on X that “DHS is monitoring the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. We are in communication with our interagency partners, and will share more information as soon as it becomes available. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”
Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, asked for prayers on X.
“Friends, this morning there was a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Parish in Minneapolis. Please join me in praying for all those who were injured or lost their lives — along with their families,” he wrote. “Let us also pray for the students, faculty, and entire parish community,” he wrote.”
Bishop Patrick M. Neary of St. Cloud, Minnesota, also expressed his grief over the shooting.
“Today, our hearts are shattered by the horrific act of violence that occurred at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis. Children were gathered for Mass. Teachers were beginning a new school year. Families were entrusting their loved ones to the care of the Church,” he said in a statement.
“I grieve deeply with the families, students, staff and parishioners of Annunciation. I grieve with our neighbors in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. And I grieve with every person who now carries the trauma of this senseless violence.
“As Catholics, we believe in the dignity of every human life. That dignity is destroyed when violence becomes routine,” he continued. “May Christ, the Prince of Peace, bring healing to all who are wounded, and may Our Lady of Sorrows intercede for us in this time of grief.”
Maria Wiering is senior writer for OSV News.