On Thursday, Aug. 27, Minneapolis will hold a day of service and remembrance at Pearl Park in honor of the Annunciation community. The City and our partners invite community members to join us to plant flowers and trees, assemble care kits for youth and collect school supplies.
- When: 1-5 p.m.
- Where: Pearl Park (414 E. Diamond Lake Rd.)
- Details: Community members can reserve a spot or stop by to participate.
- The care kits will be provided to Avenues for Youth for youth experiencing homelessness.
- School supplies will go to Minneapolis Public Schools students.
- A detailed list of care kit items and school supplies that are needed is available on our website.
The event is hosted by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, State Rep. Emma Greenman, and Minneapolis City Council Member Jamison Whiting, with support from State Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene, Minneapolis Public Schools Board Member Lori Norvell and Parks Commissioner Kay Carvajal Moran.
A Message from Annunciation: Honoring Harper and Fletcher with Bells and Lights
The Annunciation community will pay tribute to Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, emphasizing remembrance over tragedy. On August 27, churches are encouraged to ring their bells at 8:26 a.m., and residents are asked to place two candles or lights in their windows in memory of Harper and Fletcher.
On Remembrance Day, the Annunciation community wants to be a beacon of light by serving, just as so many neighbors have served them over the last year. The school started its healing, moving toward "A future filled with hope." This year’s theme is "Guide Our Feet Into the Way of Peace." It’s the community’s way of healing through service. They encourage everyone to serve others in their own communities or to perform an act of kindness on Remembrance Day. Suggestions include:
- Catholic Charities
- Bridging
- Every Meal
- Memorial Blood Centers
- Second Harvest Heartland
Supporting Community Healing
The Annunciation community and all those affected are still in the early stages of healing. Annunciation is requesting privacy. All Annunciation events at the church are private and closed to the general public and the media.
They also request that the public not send stuffed animals, flowers, food or other physical donations. Instead, anyone wishing to support the community is encouraged to contribute to the Annunciation Hope and Healing Fund - Catholic Community Foundation.
Statement from Parish of the Annunciation
“As we prepare for the one-year mark of the unimaginable tragedy that took place on August 27, 2025, our hearts are first and foremost with Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel, their families, and all those in our community who continue to heal. Throughout this past year, Annunciation has been surrounded by extraordinary prayer, compassion, generosity, and love from people throughout Minneapolis and beyond. Our faith remains at the center of our healing, reminding us that prayer also calls us to action. We invite the greater community to join us in remembering and celebrating the lives of Harper and Fletcher by praying for continued healing, serving others, and spreading kindness and goodness in their own communities. As we carry forward the hope we have been shown, we look to our Scripture theme for the 2026–27 school year, from Luke 1:79, asking God to ‘guide our feet into the way of peace.”
The Minneapolis City Council plans to honor the victims, survivors, and families of Annunciation at the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 1:30 p.m. The City Council plans to adopt an honorary resolution recognizing the Annunciation Community’s resilience, strength, faith, and kindness in the wake of the unspeakable violence that took the lives of Fletcher and Harper and injured 29 others.
The resolution acknowledges that the Annunciation community is still grieving and healing, and that Remembrance Day is an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to compassion and a future grounded in care for one another.
Background
On Aug. 27, 2025, a mass shooting occurred at the Church of the Annunciation. The shooting happened during an all-school Mass in the first week of school.
- There were a total of 31 victims, 30 from gunfire.
- Two children (Harper and Fletcher) were killed in gunfire
- 26 children injured
- 3 adults injured
One individual was injured unrelated to gunfire.