St. Gabriel Parish – Presentation on Church Active Shooters

St. Gabriel Parish
233 Mohawk Avenue
Norwood, PA 19074
610-586-1225
office@stgabrielnorwood.org

October 22, 2025

Dear Father/Monsignor,

On Saturday, November 22, from 10am until 12 noon, St. Gabriel Parish will host Trooper Jessica Tobin, from the Pennsylvania State Police. She will give a presentation on what to do if an active shooter opens fire in your Church. Her many presentations have changed hospitality and security plans in Churches. Our Assistant, Father Ed Brady is the Chaplin to the State Police and was able to secure Officer Tobin for the presentation.

In August 2025, a 23-year-old man killed two young students and wounded more than a dozen after opening fire on youngsters attending Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church, in Minneapolis. The Mass was to celebrate the opening of the school year. The killer was identified as filled with hatred and obsessed with killing children.

Since 2020 the FBI has recorded over 400 incidents against Catholic Churches. They include vandalism, arson, desecration, violence and theft. The motivating factors are political tensions extremist groups, hostility toward religion, and mental health issues.

We hope you will make this presentation known to your parishioners and surrounding non-Catholic Churches. Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans and Secretaries would benefit from this presentation. Please add to your bulletin, if possible.

There is plenty of parking next to St. Gabriel Church. We hope you can attend and we are looking forward to seeing you.

As a final note, please call St Gabriel Rectory (610-586-1225 or e-mail office@stgabrielnorwood.org) to let us know how many people from your parish will be attending. Trooper Tobin will have handouts to take back to your parish.

God Bless,

The Priests of St. Gabriel Parish
Reverend John D. Hand, Pastor
Reverend John J. Large
Reverend Edward Brady

JDH/jaw