(UPDATE: 10/18 2:48 p.m.)

Officials with the Diocese of Amarillo released statements regarding the church group from Cactus.

Bishop Patrick J. Zurek made two statements after the group returned to the Panhandle that said:

“I’m very grateful to Congressman Jackson and his staff for assisting our group of pilgrims to find transportation from Israel back to the Texas Panhandle. God bless you all.”

“When we get up every morning, we never know what may present itself to us. I can say that of the 30 pilgrims that we had that went to the Holy Land recently. Father Victor Hugo Andrade’s parishioners from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cactus were stranded there when the war began, and we asked for your prayers. I want to thank every one of you for the prayers you offered for their safety and the safety of others. I pray for a quick end to this atrocious war. God bless you for your prayers and continue to pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe that the war ends soon and that the people will get over their trauma quickly.”

—Bishop Patrick J. Zurek

Original Story

CACTUS, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the office of U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson released a statement regarding the church group from Cactus currently stuck in Israel.

In a statement, Rep. Jackson said:

“My staff and I are exploring all possible options to get the group from Our Lady of Guadalupe in Cactus out of Jerusalem and back to Texas. We have been in contact with Father Victor as well as other members of the group and their families. When we were first alerted to this, my team took action to find options to get this group home safely. After commercial flight options all fell through, we turned to seeking alternative options to get the group out, including private evacuation options. We will leave no stone unturned, and I will not rest until the group is back home safe in the Panhandle. Please join me in keeping them in our prayers.”

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson