Indian-Origin Catholic Priest Arul Carasala Fatally Shot at Kansas Church

Seneca, Kansas, April 4, 2025– Father Arul Carasala, an Indian-origin Catholic priest, was shot and killed on Thursday afternoon at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, Kansas. The Immaculate Conception Church in St. Mary’s, Kansas, confirmed his death on Facebook, urging prayers for the late priest. Authorities have not yet disclosed details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting.

Father Carasala, originally from Hyderabad, India, was ordained as a priest in 1994 in the Diocese of Cuddapah in Telangana. He moved to Kansas in 2004 at the invitation of Archbishop James P. Keleher and became a U.S. citizen in 2011. Over the years, he served at several parishes across Kansas, including St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga and St. Patrick in Corning, before becoming a pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca.

Kansas City Archbishop Joseph Fred Naumann expressed deep sorrow over Father Carasala’s death. "I am heartbroken to share the tragic news of the death of Fr. Arul Carasala, who was fatally shot earlier today," he said. "This senseless act of violence has left us grieving the loss of a beloved priest, leader, and friend."

Following the tragedy, the Knights of Columbus organized a Rosary ceremony at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca, followed by a Mass led by Archbishop Naumann in his memory.

Kansas Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins also extended his condolences, calling the incident a “senseless act of violence” and a “tragic loss to the faith community.”As investigations continue, authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the motive or suspect in the shooting.

Source: India Today