Vice President Pauses Speech to Honor Victims of Minneapolis Church Shooting
LA Crosse, Wisconsin – Vice President J.D. Vance paused during a speech in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Thursday to offer a heartfelt Catholic prayer for two children, ages eight and ten, tragically killed in a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The special moment of prayer, rooted in the deep faith Vance has noted, shines light on his commitment to leading from a place of prayer and humility in moments of national grief.
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The Minneapolis Tragedy
On Wednesday, a shooter identified as Robin Westman, a trans-identifying male, fired through a stained-glass window at the Minneapolis church, claiming the lives of two young children before taking his own life. The tragedy has shaken the community, prompting an outpouring of support and reflection.
A Prayer Rooted in Faith
During his speech, Vance invited the audience to join him in prayer: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” He described the prayer as one frequently recited in his church, noting its personal significance. The moment was a quiet but powerful reflection of the faith that has shaped Vance’s life and worldview.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” – VP JD Vance
In his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance recounts his journey from a turbulent upbringing in Ohio’s Rust Belt to embracing faith in Christ as an adult. He describes how his grandmother, “Mamaw,” instilled in him a sense of resilience and moral grounding, which later led him to the Catholic Church. “Faith gave me a framework for understanding suffering and a way to find hope in the face of it,” Vance wrote. His decision to pray publicly for the Minneapolis victims echoes this perspective, offering a moment of spiritual unity in a time of loss.
Faith as a Source of Strength
Vance’s prayer was not a political statement but a demonstration of his faith and an act of compassion, reflecting the values he has articulated in his writing. In Hillbilly Elegy, he describes how faith provided him with a sense of purpose and community, particularly in moments of hardship. By pausing his speech to pray, Vance extended that same sense of hope and solidarity to a grieving nation.
“Faith isn’t just personal; it’s a way to connect with others in shared humanity,” said Father James Callahan, a Catholic priest who has followed Vance’s public journey. “His prayer was a reminder that, in times of tragedy, spiritual traditions can offer comfort and meaning.”
A Call for Healing
The Minneapolis shooting has left communities searching for ways to process their grief. Vance’s prayer, grounded in the Catholic tradition he embraced later in life, served as a reminder of the role faith can play in healing. Rather than focusing on the broader societal debates surrounding the tragedy, Vance chose to center his response on a quiet act of devotion, inviting others to join him in honoring the memory of the young victims.
As the nation mourns, Vance’s leadership and public expression of faith remind us that we are a nation whose only Hope is in Christ – for truly it is in God we trust.
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