Healing and action: reflecting on gun violence after Annunciation

On the morning of Wednesday, August 27, a mass shooting occurred at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The church was filled with young students, teachers and staff from Annunciation Catholic School celebrating the opening Mass when the shooter opened fire through the stained glass. Two children, Fletcher Merkel (age 8) and Harper Moyski (age 10), have been pronounced dead and 21 other people were injured.

For many of us, this tragedy has been top-of-mind as we return to campus or arrive for the first time this fall. Many community members have personal connections to Annunciation, and beyond that, as a fellow Catholic school, we feel this deeply.

The cover photo of this week’s edition of The Record shows the student walkout protest organized by the St. John’s Prep School in response to the Annunciation shooting. This event was just one of many on campus in the last two weeks intended to honor the victims and speak out against gun violence, providing our communities with outlets to express their outrage and grief.

Annunciation marks the 44th school shooting of 2025 in America. It has now been 26 years since the Columbine High School Massacre and 12 years since Sandy Hook. These devastating tragedies are far too common in our country, and as we grieve the violence in Minneapolis, our hearts and minds must not remain complicit.

For those who feel hopeless in the wake of this news, we offer two pieces of advice. First, utilize the resources available on campus to support yourselves and others. Campus mental health resources are readily available for any community member who needs them, and both CSB Campus Ministry and SJU Faiths’ doors are always open.

Secondly, we urge you to act, whether it’s increasing your own media literacy or being in conversation with others. You can also use apps like 5 Calls, which will direct you to the right legislators and representatives to contact. Taking action saves lives. As you begin this school year, we implore you to first take care of yourself and the people around you. Now, as always, our community can provide strength in times of extreme loss. We also encourage you to be part of the solution, so that no student or any other individual in this country lives in fear of gun violence. This future is possible, but it requires active work.

We at the Editorial Board wish you a safe and productive beginning to the school year, and hope that with the support of our campus community, we can provide opportunities for healing and prioritize meaningful, life saving change – in Minnesota and beyond.