Let us pray and remember......

Abbe Jacques Hamel (1930-2016)

We honor today a priest martyred earlier today in his humble church at St Etienne du Rouvray, France. Residents and parishioners reacted with shock and sadness to the killing of Fr Jacques Hamel, a well-known figure in the community. Among the comments shared yesterday after this senseless killing were these: "My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him." "He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn't like to draw attention to himself." "Everyone knew him very well. He was very loved in the community and a kind man." Born in 1930 and ordained a priest in 1958, the 85-year-old priest was killed and four other people were taken hostage by two armed men who stormed his church in a suburb of Rouen in northern France. The two attackers, who said they were from the so-called Islamic State, slit Fr Jacques Hamel's throat during a morning Mass, officials say. Police later surrounded the church, in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and shot dead both hostage-takers. The attack happened during morning Mass at the historic church, situated in the quite square of this town. 

St Etienne du Rouvray in Normandy, north France

One nun who witnessed the attack, said that the men forced Fr Hamel to his knees and recorded the killing, speaking Arabic as they did so. She says she fled as they were preparing to kill him. Let us pray for an end to this senseless killing and violence, especially as it hit France and Germany over the last few weeks.