Seneca, KS – The community of Seneca is reeling after the tragic death of Father Arul Carasala, a long-serving and beloved priest at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Father Carasala, 57, was found with gunshot wounds outside the church rectory on Thursday afternoon and later succumbed to his injuries at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.
According to a joint statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call reporting shots fired at the rectory, located at 411 Pioneer St., was placed at approximately 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd. Deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department arrived on the scene at 2:55 p.m. and discovered Father Carasala suffering from gunshot wounds outside the residence.
Seneca EMS provided immediate medical attention and transported Father Carasala to the local hospital. Despite life-saving efforts, he passed away from his injuries.
Following the incident, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers assisted in securing the scene. Authorities swiftly apprehended Gary L. Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was taken into custody by deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department and subsequently booked into the Nemaha County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. Hermesch has not yet been formally charged.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann confirmed the devastating news in a social media post on Thursday, expressing the profound loss felt by the community. Details surrounding the shooting remain limited as the investigation is ongoing.
Father Carasala had a long and dedicated history of service to the Catholic Church. Ordained on March 4, 1994, for the Diocese of Cuddapah in India, he arrived at Sts. Peter and Paul as Pastor on July 15, 2011. Prior to his arrival in Seneca, he served as an associate pastor in Fidelity, Sabetha, and Wetmore. Father Carasala also held the position of Pastor for four additional parishes: St. Vincent de Paul in Onaga, St. Patrick Parish in Corning, St. Bede Parish in Kelly, and St. Columbkille in Blaine.
Despite the shocking tragedy, a mass led by Father Carasala was still scheduled for Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. Parishioners and those wishing to offer their prayers were invited to view the service on the Sts. Peter and Paul – Seneca YouTube page. A rosary for Father Carasala was held earlier in the evening at 6 p.m.
Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time. They also emphasized that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
