November 6, 2025 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
TheCatholicSpirit.com
Coming home Sophia Forchas greets staff at Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis Oct. 23 just after her release from Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. She was brought to HCMC in a white limousine with her father, Tom, and two brothers. Her mother, Amy, works at HCMC as a nurse and was among the well-wishers. In a statement published to a family GoFundMe page Oct. 23, Tom and Amy Forchas said they “are overwhelmed with gratitude for the remarkable medical professionals whose skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication brought us to this moment.” DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Sophia Forchas, discharged from hospital after Annunciation shooting, greeted with cheers By Josh McGovern and Rebecca Omastiak The Catholic Spirit
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rediting the “boundless grace of God” and the “miraculous power of prayer,” Tom and Amy Forchas celebrated their daughter, Sophia, returning home from the hospital Oct. 23 after she was hurt in an Aug. 27 shooting during an all-school Mass at Annunciation’s church in Minneapolis. A white limousine brought her to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in downtown Minneapolis, where she was
greeted with signs and cheers. Two students were killed in the shooting — Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel. Forchas, a seventh grader, was in critical condition for two weeks after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Then, Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, which owns HCMC, reported on Sept. 11 that Forchas had moved into serious condition — defined as having “a chance for improved prognosis.” On her way home from Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, where she was receiving inpatient rehabilitation, Forchas
was escorted to HCMC. She was greeted by staff celebrating her recovery. Some staff cried and hugged each other. They held signs that included birthday messages and sang the “Happy Birthday” song to her. Forchas turned 13 on Oct. 25. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara was part of the escort. Greeting Forchas right after she exited the limo was her mother, who works as a pediatric critical care nurse at HCMC and was there the day Forchas was admitted. Forchas’ neurosurgeon, Dr. Walt Galicich, credited staff at
Hennepin Healthcare for assisting in Forchas’ recovery. In September, while Galicich gave an optimistic diagnosis of Forchas, he said there was a possibility that she might be the third fatality as a result of the shooting. Outside HCMC, Galicich was one of many people to hug Forchas on Oct. 23. In a statement published to a family GoFundMe page the same day, Tom and Amy Forchas said they “are overwhelmed with gratitude for the remarkable PLEASE TURN TO SOPHIA FORCHAS ON PAGE 5
BISHOP KENNEY’S FIRST YEAR 6 | NEW CATHOLIC SCHOOL 7 | TRI-PARISH COMMUNITY 8 VOCATION AND FAMILY FAITH 10-11 | YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY 12 | PRO ECCLESIA SANCTA LEADER 13