Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on the School Shooting in Minnesota
August 27, 2025

I have been following news reports on the shooting at Annunciation Church and School in Minnesota. While events are still unfurling, what we know now is that two children ages 8 and 10 were killed and 17 persons were injured, 14 of them children. Two children are in critical condition. While such shootings have sadly become commonplace, this one hits close to home, not only because it occurred at a Catholic school, but also because the gunman shot through the windows of a church where children and their teachers were praying at the start of a new school year. If any place should have been safe, it should have been there. If any time should have been safe, it should have been then. Tragically, we know no place or time when Americans – even children – are safe from the curse of gun violence. While we join our prayers with others that those injured in body and spirit will heal and that the murdered children will be received into heaven, we must also cry out for action to prevent even one more such tragedy.

The facts are clear. Guns are plentiful and common-sense attempts to limit their availability have been largely rejected in the name of a freedom not found in our Constitution. Cutbacks in funding for health care and social service programs will only exacerbate a national mental health crisis and increase alienation. We therefore pray for those who hold the power to make the safety of our people a national priority.

We ask God to give them the courage to take the steps they know will alleviate if not eliminate the fear parents must feel sending their children off to school and Americans feel leaving their homes for simple errands. Surely, they must be moved by these shootings. We pray that they will not see them as inevitable because then we will have certainly surrendered our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Please pray and please act.
Now.

Pope Leo is appealing to all Catholics to unite in prayer and fasting for peace on Friday, August 22nd, the day the Church celebrates the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  "Mary is the Mother of believers here on earth, and is also invoked as Queen of Peace, while our earth continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine, and in many other regions of the world. I invite all the faithful to devote the day of 22 August to fasting and prayer, imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to dry the tears of those who suffer as a result of the ongoing armed conflicts.
Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede so that people may find the path to peace."
 
Divine Mercy will host two opportunities for communal prayer on Friday:

1. The 8 a.m. Mass at St. Philip the Apostle Church will be followed by the Rosary, led by Cathy Stegich and Bobbie Weiss.
2. You can also participate in the Rosary at Sacred Heart Church at 1 p.m. led by our Magi group, Rita Compton, Claudia Goodrich and Bonnie-Ann Hartwig.

 
Thank you to these parishioners for leading us in communal prayer.
 
For your information, there are various books on prayer and fasting available for you in the Gathering Space at Sacred Heart Church that you may keep.
 
Please join us if you are able.

Children's Ministry, our religious education program at Divine Mercy, is suddenly in need of a few more catechists. If you are someone who feels called to share your faith with the children of our parish, we could use your help. If you feel like you don't know enough or don't want to do this on your own, be not afraid, as the scriptures tell us!  If you follow Jesus, know your sacraments, pray, and love the Lord, you can do it!  There are people to guide you, people to partner with and aides to help you along.
If you're interested, tempted, or just want to learn more, please contact Miriam Chan, our Director of Children's Ministry by clicking here, or calling the parish office at 847-446-0856, x. 102.