Perspective: It's high time to take action

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis was the unfortunate site of America's first school shooting of the new school year on a Wednesday in August 2025. The shooting, during a prayer session to begin the school day, claimed the lives of two innocent students.

Matthew DeBoer, the principal of Annunciation Catholic School, had planned for the school year's theme to be "a future filled with hope" from the Book of Jeremiah. However, the tragic events of that day shattered the hopes of the school community.

The principal, in a sombre tone, expressed that there is nothing that happened today that can fill him with hope. He urged people to pray, but also to take action to support the community, children, families, and teachers who are now left to pick up the pieces.

In response to the tragedy, Bishop Joseph Williams, the Archbishop of the Catholic church, spoke at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. He emphasized that prayer and action are necessary to make a difference and to find hope. The church bell, traditionally a call to prayer in the Catholic church, rang out as a symbol of unity and solidarity.

The Archbishop's speech reinforced the need for prayer and action as a source of hope. He reminded the community to pray, but also to take action to prevent future tragedies. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota echoed these sentiments, stating that there shouldn't be words for such incidents because they should not happen.

Reporters have been writing obituaries for young students who had just begun to live, and people offer prayers, thoughts, and vows that such an abominable crime must never happen again.

In a cruel twist of irony, the shooting marked the first school shooting of the new school year. Education Week reports that there were over two dozen school shootings during the last school year, a statistic that underscores the urgency for action.

The Archbishop of the Catholic church in Minneapolis, who spoke at the hour, was Bishop Joseph Williams, who was ordained in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 2002. His words resonated with the community, serving as a call to action and a reminder of the importance of hope in the face of adversity.

The Archbishop's speech was a poignant reminder that prayer and action are vital tools in the fight against school shootings. As we move forward, it is crucial that we remember the victims of this tragedy and work together to create a future filled with hope and free from such senseless violence.