Kansas Catholic priest dies after being shot at his church's rectory, leaving parish in 'state of shock'

A Catholic clergyman died successful Kansas aft being changeable astatine his church’s rectory successful an incidental a chap pastor told Fox News Digital has near his assemblage successful a "state of shock."

Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was taken into custody Thursday day pursuing the onslaught connected Father Arul Carasala, 57, astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Hermesch was detained connected suspicion of first-degree murder. 

"We're each conscionable inactive successful a authorities of shock. I mean, this is small-town America. And Father Arul was specified a beloved pastor successful Seneca, Kansas. He's been a pastor determination for implicit 13 years," Father Brian Schieber, a Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Kansas City successful Kansas, told Fox News Digital.

"A bully shepherd knows his radical by name, and Father Arul knew everybody. He, implicit these years, baptized truthful galore people, did truthful galore weddings, funerals, helium was specified a bully confessor and contiguous to radical who were sick, had specified pastoral wisdom, helium is truly beloved by everybody," Schieber added.

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Father Arul Carasala, a pastor astatine Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca, Kan., was fatally changeable connected Thursday, April 3, 2025.  (AP/The Leaven)

Schieber described the shooting arsenic a "senseless enactment of violence."

"We person nary thought what the motive for this was. And, you know, we're truly praying for the idiosyncratic that killed Father Arul arsenic well. And convey you each for your prayers," helium said.

Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department responded to a 911 telephone "reporting shots fired astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory" astir 3 p.m. section clip Thursday, the KBI said. 

When they arrived, they discovered Carasala "outside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds," it added.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann leads a wide connected Thursday, April 3, astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church successful Seneca, pursuing the decease of Carasala. (Jay Soldner/The Leaven)

"Seneca EMS arrived and transported Father Carasala to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. Despite life-saving measures, helium died astatine the infirmary from his injuries," the KBI besides said successful a statement.  

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A wide was held astatine Carasala's religion Thursday nighttime successful the aftermath of the shooting.

Gary Hermesch was taken into custody successful transportation to the shooting. (Nemaha County Sheriff's Office)

"Father Arul was a person to maine and a large priest," Archbishop Joseph Naumann wrote connected Facebook Friday aft starring the mass. "I shared successful my homily that being a clergyman contiguous requires heroic love. That prime was evident successful Father Arul, who near India to travel to the heartland of America and service the radical of the Catholic Church successful northeast Kansas." 

"While we proceed to mourn the nonaccomplishment of Father Arul, I commune that we volition not suffer hope. God is with america successful our adversity," Naumann added. "He tin bring bully retired of evil. He tin bring beingness retired of death. Let america gully person to Jesus during this clip of sorrow and inquire him to console our hearts." 

Archbishop Joseph Naumann leads a wide astatine the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church connected Thursday night. (Jay Soldner/The Leaven)

Schieber told Fox News Digital that "we are a tiny archdiocese, truthful we person astir 150 priests and we each cognize each different truly well. 

"We're similar brothers to each other. And Father Arul was truly adjuvant to maine personally and volition beryllium dearly missed," helium said.

The Archdiocese of Kansas City successful Kansas said "Father Arul was a faithful clergyman who devoutly served our archdiocese for much than 2 decades.

Carasala was recovered Thursday day suffering from gunshot wounds extracurricular the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church rectory, officials said. (Jay Soldner/The Leaven)

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"Ordained successful March 1994 successful his location Diocese of Cuddapah, India, helium ministered astatine Sts. Peter and Paul… and besides served arsenic dean of the Nemaha-Marshall deanery. His heavy faith, pastoral care, and generous tone touched the lives of truthful many," it added. "Eternal remainder assistance unto him, O Lord, and fto perpetual airy radiance upon him."