Latest news with #Carasala
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Funeral plans released for slain Kansas priest
Context: The above video initially aired on April 4, 2025. SENECA (KSNT) – The funeral details have been released for a Kansas priest who was killed by gunfire in Seneca earlier this month. The Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca posted on social media on Tuesday, April 8 that a mass will be held for Father Arul Carasala later in the day at 6 p.m. with a healing service at 7 p.m. at the church. Carasala's body will lay in state at 1 p.m. in the church followed by a Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m., a rosary service at 5 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9. People can visit Carasala at the church after the vigil to pay their respects. A memorial mass is set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 10 with a formal funeral to be held for Carasala in India. Saints Peter and Paul Parish will stream the healing service, rosary, vigil service and memorial mass on YouTube. Law enforcement was called around 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory at 411 Pioneer Street in Seneca on reports on gunshots in the area. Deputies with the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and officers with the Seneca Police Department arriving at the scene found Father Carasala outside the rectory of the church suffering from gunshot wounds. Lawmakers approve change to the Kansas Constitution over voting rights Medical personnel took Carasala to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he later passed away. The Knights of Columbus in Seneca, Archbishop Joseph Naumann out of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and other members of the Catholic faith held services shortly after Carasala's death to honor his memory. Law enforcement arrested Gary L. Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma in connection to the deadly shooting. The Nemaha County District Attorney later charged him with one count of first-degree murder on April 4. 27 News later discovered that Hermesch wrote multiple letters to a Seneca newspaper about topics related to religion and politics before the shooting. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas Catholic priest was shot 'intentionally and with premeditation,' prosecutor alleges
The murder of a Kansas Catholic priest at his church's rectory was carried out "intentionally and with premeditation," a prosecutor said. Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, remains in custody Monday at the Nemaha County Jail following the shooting death of Father Arul Carasala last week. The 57-year-old was found "suffering from gunshot wounds" Thursday when police responded to a 911 call at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, and later died at a local hospital, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). A charging complaint alleged Hermesch – who is facing one count of first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond – "intentionally and with premeditation" killed Carasala, The Associated Press cited Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert as saying. Lipper did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Kansas Catholic Priest Dies After Being Shot At His Church's Rectory, Leaving Parish In 'State Of Shock' Kris Anderson, the parish's director of religious education, told the AP last week, "From what we know, an older man walked up to him [Carasala] and shot him three times." Read On The Fox News App In an interview with Fox News Digital, Father Brian Schieber, a vicar general for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said, "We're all just still in a state of shock. "I mean, this is small-town America. And Father Arul was such a beloved pastor in Seneca, Kansas. He's been a pastor there for over 13 years," Schieber said last week. "A good shepherd knows his people by name, and Father Arul knew everybody. He, over these years, baptized so many people, did so many weddings, funerals, he was such a good confessor and present to people who were sick, had such pastoral wisdom, he is really beloved by everybody," Schieber added. Experts Reveal Details About A 16Th-century Catholic Saint Found 'Perfectly Preserved' Schieber described the shooting as a "senseless act of violence." "We have no idea what the motive for this was. And, you know, we're really praying for the person that killed Father Arul as well. And thank you all for your prayers," he said. Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department responded to a 911 call "reporting shots fired at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory" around 3 p.m. local time Thursday, the KBI said. When they arrived, they discovered Carasala "outside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds," it added. "Seneca EMS arrived and transported Father Carasala to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Despite life-saving measures, he died at the hospital from his injuries," the KBI also said in a article source: Kansas Catholic priest was shot 'intentionally and with premeditation,' prosecutor alleges
Fox News
07-04-2025
- Fox News
Kansas Catholic priest was shot 'intentionally and with premeditation,' prosecutor alleges
The murder of a Kansas Catholic priest at his church's rectory was carried out "intentionally and with premeditation," a prosecutor said. Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, remains in custody Monday at the Nemaha County Jail following the shooting death of Father Arul Carasala last week. The 57-year-old was found "suffering from gunshot wounds" Thursday when police responded to a 911 call at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, and later died at a local hospital, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). A charging complaint alleged Hermesch – who is facing one count of first-degree murder and is being held on a $1 million bond – "intentionally and with premeditation" killed Carasala, The Associated Press cited Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert as saying. Lipper did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Kris Anderson, the parish's director of religious education, told the AP last week, "From what we know, an older man walked up to him [Carasala] and shot him three times." In an interview with Fox News Digital, Father Brian Schieber, a vicar general for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, said, "We're all just still in a state of shock. "I mean, this is small-town America. And Father Arul was such a beloved pastor in Seneca, Kansas. He's been a pastor there for over 13 years," Schieber said last week. "A good shepherd knows his people by name, and Father Arul knew everybody. He, over these years, baptized so many people, did so many weddings, funerals, he was such a good confessor and present to people who were sick, had such pastoral wisdom, he is really beloved by everybody," Schieber added. Schieber described the shooting as a "senseless act of violence." "We have no idea what the motive for this was. And, you know, we're really praying for the person that killed Father Arul as well. And thank you all for your prayers," he said. Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department responded to a 911 call "reporting shots fired at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory" around 3 p.m. local time Thursday, the KBI said. When they arrived, they discovered Carasala "outside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds," it added. "Seneca EMS arrived and transported Father Carasala to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Despite life-saving measures, he died at the hospital from his injuries," the KBI also said in a statement.
New York Times
05-04-2025
- New York Times
Priest Is Fatally Shot Outside His Parish Rectory
A man fatally shot a Catholic priest outside his parish rectory in Kansas on Thursday in an attack with no known motive, the authorities said. The priest, Arul Carasala, 57, was found with gunshot wounds at around 3 p.m. by state troopers outside the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory in Seneca, Kan., according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The priest was brought to a hospital where he died from his injuries. Shortly after, the authorities arrested Gary L. Hermesch, 66, who was booked into Nemaha County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, the bureau said. It remained unclear what led to Mr. Hermesch's arrest. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer. A motive was not immediately given for the shooting. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the investigation was ongoing. 'This senseless act of violence has left us grieving the loss of a beloved priest, leader, and friend,' Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City said on Facebook. He added, 'Let us also pray for the perpetrator, that God may touch and transform his heart.' Seneca is a town of about 2,000 people in northern Kansas, near the border with Nebraska. The authorities said Mr. Hermesch is from Tulsa, Okla., which is about 300 miles south of Seneca. Raj 'Arul' Balaswamy Carasala was born in Cuddapah, India, a city in the country's southeast. According to an online biography, Father Carasala became the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul parish on July 15, 2011. He was ordained in the Diocese of Cuddapah and moved in 2004 to Kansas, where he served in four different parishes before settling in Seneca. Father Carasala became an American citizen on May 20, 2011, according to the biography. He maintained his ties to India, and believed that 'the church is home wherever he is.' Archbishop Naumann said Mass on Thursday evening in Father Carasala's honor, according to social media posts. 'While we continue to mourn the loss of Father Arul, I pray that we will not lose hope. God is with us in our adversity,' Archbishop Naumann said. 'He can bring good out of evil.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged in Seneca priest's death wrote about religion, more to local newspaper
SENECA (KSNT) – Gary Hermesch, the man charged for allegedly shooting and killing a Catholic priest in Seneca had previously shared his opinions in a local newspaper. From January 2021 to March 2024, Hermesch submitted entries to The Courier-Tribune, a newspaper covering Seneca and Nemaha County. The Courier-Tribune shared copies of six issues with 27 News, where Hermesch shared his thoughts on religion and a wide range of other topics in the 'Letter to the Editor' column. 'Let's not sweat the small stuff, though, maybe if we just follow Donald Trump's example we'll 'make the Church great again'. So why are things headed south like a runaway freight train? Simple. The faith is not being taught. Now is that equality and tolerance of other religions, or what?' Statement excerpt by Gary Hermesch from Aug. 4, 2021 Letter to the Editor, The Courier-Tribune Topeka council to consider $587M 5-year capital improvement plan While Hermesch writes about Catholicism and the Vatican in some letters, he does not mention Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Father Arul Carasala or the town of Seneca. On Friday, April 4, Hermesch, 66, appeared before a judge in court after being charged with first-degree murder by the Nemaha County District Attorney. He is accused of shooting and killing Father Carasala, 57, of Seneca on April 3. Man charged as adult in 2023 homicide in Topeka Law enforcement was called at 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory located at 411 Pioneer Street in Seneca on reports of gunshots, according to a report from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI). Deputies with the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office and officers with the Seneca Police Department found Father Carasala outside the rectory suffering from gunshot wounds. First responders took Father Carasala to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. However, he later died at the hospital despite attempts to save his life. Law enforcement later arrested Hermesch in connection to the shooting. He was taken to the Nemaha County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
