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Greetings!
Last week’s shooting at the Church of the Annunciation reminds each of us that no school is immune from “the pandemic of arms…which infects our world” (Pope Leo).
While we are not immune, we can take steps prepare, advocate, and pray. We prepare as we employ the best information and practices available, consulting with subject matter experts when possible, to inform our emergency response plans. We prepare when we collaborate across schools to learn better ways to keep our children safe. We prepare when we train our staffs in our response protocols and engage in appropriate drills to help prepare the students we serve.
We must be advocates, echoing Pope Leo’s appeal to leaders “to abandon the logic of weapons and to take up the path of negotiation and peace.” We should model this path to peace in our schools and communities, raising the voice of fraternity and justice as the voice of weapons is silenced (Pope Leo, 31 August 2025).
We join our hearts in prayer. This week we will gather on Thursday morning to share a communal project we will undertake to unite with the community in Minneapolis. We also ask that you include the following intention in your universal prayers as your school celebrates its Mass of the Holy Spirit in the days ahead:
For the Annunciation Catholic School community in Minneapolis, that, through the merciful love of God, they may receive the consolation of the Holy Spirit, swift physical and spiritual healing, and the hope of eternal peace.
If you are looking for ways to contribute financially, the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota has established the Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund, to provide financial support to the Church of the Annunciation for the needs of the church and school and to provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
We are not immune from tragedy, but we can control our preparedness, our advocacy, and our prayer, seeking to create safe environments for our students and staff and a better world for all. In these difficult days, let us turn to our communion in ministry as a source of consolation and continue to lead with faith, hope, and charity.
With gratitude,
NICHOLAS FORD | Superintendent
Office for Catholic Schools | Archdiocese of Seattle
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