CV NEWS FEED // Catholics from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, are mourning the loss of Father Arul Carasala, who was fatally shot April 3.
As CatholicVote previously reported, Fr. Carasala was the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Seneca, Kansas, and he was shot outside of the church’s rectory. Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder.
Yesterday, Catholics gathered at the Saints Peter and Paul Church to pray a rosary for Fr. Carasala’s soul, according to the archdiocesan Facebook page. Archbishop Joseph Naumann also celebrated Mass at the church at 7:30 p.m.
Archbishop Naumann wrote on Facebook after the Mass that it was an honor to pray for Fr. Carasala’s soul with the people of Saints Peter and Paul.
“Father Arul was a friend to me and a great priest. I shared in my homily that being a priest today requires heroic love,” he wrote in the post. “That quality was evident in Father Arul, who left India to come to the heartland of America and serve the people of the Catholic Church in northeast Kansas.”
Upon the death of Fr. Carasala, Archbishop Naumann wrote on his Facebook page, “Fr. Carasala was a devoted and zealous pastor who faithfully served our Archdiocese for over twenty years, including as dean of the Nemaha-Marshall region. His love for Christ and His Church was evident in how he ministered to his people with great generosity and care. His parishioners, friends, and brother priests will deeply miss him.”
He asked the faithful to entrust Fr. Carasala’s soul to God’s mercy and to pray for his family in India and his parish. He also asked for prayers for the perpetrator.
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