Indian American Kansas priest Father Arul Carasala shot dead

Suspect arrested for murder of India-born priest working in Kansas since 2004, in a ‘senseless act of violence’

By Arun Kumar

Father Raj “Arul” Balaswamy Carasala, a longtime Indian American Catholic priest in Kansas, was fatally shot Thursday in Seneca, Kansas in what was called a “senseless act of violence.”

Hailing from Hyderabad, Carasala was a priest in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and leader at Saints Peter and Paul Parish since 2011. He was ordained as a priest in 1994 in Diocese of Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh, in India. He moved to Kansas in 2004 at the invitation of then Archbishop James P. Keleher, according to a report in India Today.

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Father Carasala had been working in Kansas since then and became a US citizen on May 20, 2011. Prior to serving at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, he served at various other parishes, including St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga and St. Patrick in Corning.

Police arrested 66-year-old Gary Hermesch of Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the scene on suspicion of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Nemaha County Jail, kmbc.com reported citing KBI. A motive for the shooting is under investigation.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, described him as a “devoted and zealous” priest whose compassion and generosity left a lasting impact on his parishioners and fellow clergy.

“Fr. Carasala was a devoted and zealous pastor who faithfully served our Archdiocese for over twenty years, including as dean of the Nemaha-Marshall region,” Naumann stated.

“His love for Christ and His Church was evident in how he ministered to his people with great generosity and care. His parishioners, friends, and brother priests will deeply miss him.”

The local Knights of Columbus led a rosary service on Thursday night in honor of Fr. Carasala. During the service, he was recognized for his years of service to the community.

“He is rightly called the Bishop of Nemaha, right? He knows your family better than you know your own family,” said Father Joel Haug of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. “He knows all of your relatives, he knows all of your friends.”

Leaders called for the congregation to come together during this time. “It is heartbreaking to hear of the news of the fatal shooting Fr. Arul Carasala,” Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins said. “My deepest prayers go out all who knew him, as they grapple with this senseless act of violence and tragic loss to the faith community.”

“I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of Father Arul Carasala due to a senseless act of violence,” U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall said. “I am praying for Father Carasala’s family, friends, and parishioners as they grieve. We must find who did this, and justice must be served.”

“Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Raj “Arul” Balaswamy Carasala who was tragically shot today at the rectory of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and died shortly after at the local hospital. A suspected shooter is reportedly in custody. We have no further information at this point,” the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas stated.