Catholic School Shooting Hit Close To Home For Camden Bishop Who Served Nearby Church

CAMDEN, NJ — The Camden Diocese bishop was at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport when he heard about the mass shooting at a Catholic church in the city he long called home.

Bishop Joseph Williams was born in Minneapolis — the city where he was ordained a priest in 2002 and spent much of his priesthood.

Williams recently visited family and friends in Minnesota and was preparing for his flight back to South Jersey on Wednesday.

Then, he was informed of what happened earlier that morning: a deadly mass shooting at the Church of the Annunciation — a church just a few miles from his former church. Students and faculty of Annunciation Catholic School were attending a school-wide mass.

The shooter opened fire through the windows during a school-wide mass, killing two children and injuring 17 others before dying by suicide.

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Williams lived and served for 15 years at St. Stephen Church in Minneapolis — about 5 miles from the massacre. Both church communities often crossed paths.

"The faithful of Annunciation were truly good neighbors to us and especially to the Latino families we served through our 'Sagrada Familia' apostolate," Williams wrote in a statement. "The words of Saint Paul — 'God loves a cheerful giver' (2 Cor 9:7) – really came to life through them!"

On the flight home, Williams texted the pastor of Annunciation Parish, Fr. Dennis Zehren.

"He and I were in the seminary together, and I am sure that God has him at that parish for such a time as this," Williams said. "He is a man of great faith and even greater pastoral charity, and he will shepherd those school children and their families into the green pastures of renewed faith, hope and love."

Williams finished his note with the following message:

"I would like to invite all of you to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary for our brothers and sisters at Annunciation Church and School. As we do, let us ask that the words of Jesus be fulfilled in them in the days and weeks ahead: 'Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn…you will grieve, but your grief will become joy' (Jn 16:20)."

Williams served in the priesthood at different congregations in the Twin Cities for about 20 years. Pope Francis named Williams as coadjutor bishop of Camden in May 2024.

In March, Williams became the Camden Diocese bishop when his predecessor, Dennis Sullivan, retired.

The Camden Diocese consists of parishes throughout Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Williams's full statement on the shooting is available on the Catholic Star Herald's website.