Wisconsin Christmas Parade Car Strike Hospitalizes Catholic Priest, Parishioners & Schoolchildren

Please pray for Waukesha, Wisconsin!

A vehicle rammed through a crowd in a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wis. at approximately 4:40 p.m. local time Sun., Nov. 21, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40.

Among the injured and hospitalized were a Catholic priest, parishioners, and Catholic schoolchildren.

ABC News reported that of the 18 children hospitalized, 10 of them are in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Archdiocese of Milwaukee communications director Sandra Peterson responded to the incident, asking the faithful to join the diocese in prayer for all involved.

Here’s the statement below:

The statement reads, “Our prayers are with the people who have been injured and killed during the tragic incident in Waukesha.

“Among the injured are one of our Catholic priests, as well as multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic school children.

“Please join us in prayer for all those involved, their families, and those who are traumatized from witnessing the horrible scene.”

The Catholic community in Waukesha consists of four parishes.

The parish community Facebook page posted an update late Sunday night regarding the incident. They did not reveal the identities of the injured.

Here’s the post below:

Catholic Community of Waukesha, Facebook

post

“Despite this horrific event, we will call on the Holy Spirit and come together as a community with Fr. Matthew and Fr. Chuck leading the Rosary tonight (8:30pm) on Facebook. Please join us to pray for those who were injured.”

The page later posted an update, explaining that they continue to “monitor the impact of yesterday’s tragic event and minister to our injured parishioners and to anyone who was in attendance.”

The community will livestream a prayer service on their Facebook page at 6 p.m. CT on Mon., Nov. 22.