By Elizabeth Lowe
Twitter: @ReviewLowe
A parishioner of St. Pius X, Rodgers Forge, was allegedly carjacked after attending noon Mass Aug. 29 at St. Mary of the Assumption, Govans, said Father Patrick E. Besel, pastor of the Govans parish.
The victim reportedly left the northern Baltimore city parish around 12:45 p.m. and walked to her car parked on Tunbridge Avenue, the street adjacent to the church, Father Besel said.
Once the victim got in her car, the man she saw walking down the street reportedly opened her car door and brandished a handgun, Father Besel said. The man reportedly forced her out of the car and drove off in it.
“We haven’t had anything serious like that happen around the church,” said Father Besel, who noted the parish community is making church-goers aware of the event.
“Our big thing now is … just to be aware and we’re having our staff hanging out there (outside) in the daytime,” Father Besel said. “I don’t want people to be afraid. At the same time, we have to be very vigilant.”
Father Besel, who urges parishioners to walk to their cars in groups, said Schmidt described the suspect “very young.”
A description of the suspect was not immediately available.
The Baltimore City Police Department’s Public Affairs Office did not immediately return a call for comment.
Copyright (c) Sept. 4, 2012 CatholicReview.org