Pastor asks for prayers for man accused of disrupting Staten Island Mass; urges mental health support

Luke Peteley

Originally published in Staten Island Advance on .
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Following a recent outburst that disrupted Mass and damaged the altar at St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Dongan Hills, the pastor of the parish said he is praying for the man accused of the incident, while urging the community to invest more deeply in mental health care and services.
 

State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who grew up in Dongan Hills and has an extensive history with St. Ann’s, applauded Thumma at the press conference and said the following:

“Father Thumma, I commend you for your bravery and also your forgiveness in making sure that the people who are dealing with mental health issues get the treatment that they deserve as well.”
 

Read the full article here.

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